.
These studies had the aim of trying to dig out what the gospel truly entails as compared to what we hear today. It's focus was on Math 28:19-20, which says the disciples must be taught to obey everything that Jesus. Thus, this was not to inform our minds but to lead us to obey Christ.
Having studied three books, Mathew Luke and John, there are many things that we have seen that Jesus insisted upon. We are going to try to make a summary.
√ The very first message Jesus begun preaching was about repentance. Mathew 4:17. He told the apostles to preach repentance. Luke 24:47.
It refers to changing the direction of our mind. Formerly the mind was thinking about I, my, but to repent is to reorient our mind from I to God, from my to God's. From My will to Gods will, from my plans to Gods plan, from God's plan, from my way to God's way, from what pleases me to what pleases God.
Repentance is one of the missing messages in today's Christianity. Mat 5:30, 10:28
✓ Jesus warned about sinning and said that it led to hell, a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. He said it's better to cut off your hand than to sin and be cast into hell. He warned the disciples to not fear men but God who can kill and cast into hell.
He warned that the religious hypocrites will also be cast into hell. Mathew 24:51.
It's very rare to hear today warnings on hell and calling people to stop sinning. Majority only hear what their ears want to hear, they will prosper and live good lives...
√ Jesus also spoke much about forgiveness. He warned that if you don't forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins. Mathew 6:15.
We have a generation of believers whose hearts have grudges against those who wronged them. The saddest thing is that they never hear that unless they forgive, neither will they be forgiven. Sadder still is that they never read the bible for themselves to see these things. The people in hell today have only one message to those living on earth today; they should repent. Those in heaven have only one message to those alive on earth, they should read the bible for themselves and believe what is written there. Luke 16:19-30. Unfortunately we do none.
The message to you from those who have died is that you repent and stop sinning and read the bible for yourself.
√ Another thing that Jesus said is that for you to become His disciple, your must love Jesus more than Father, mother, brother, sister , friends, your life, and your possessions. You must carry your cross everyday which is to say that where your will crosses God's will, you crucify your self-will and chose to do God's will everyday. Luke 9:23-24, 14:26-33.
This also is a missing message in today's Christianity.
√ Another thing that Jesus insisted is on obedience to His commands. He repeatedly said in John 14, 15 &16 that if you love Him you will obey His commandments. His commands are unknown to many, the commands He gave His disciples, and obedience is rare to hear.
This also is a missing message in today's Christianity.
√ Jesus also insisted on the Holy Spirit, the need and purpose. He is our helper, our teacher, He is to glorify Christ and remind us on what Christ has spoken to us. John 14:26, 15:26.
We hear about the the Holy Spirit but unfortunately He is mostly painted as a giver of gifts. The gifts most people ask for are healing and miracles, and the main reason is that they want honour of being a healer or a miracle worker. The Holy Spirit is not given to give us Honour but to transform us from the inside. He is to bring honour to Jesus. He is to reveal the glory of Christ to us and then change us so that we can be like Christ. He is to fill our hearts with divine love. Rom 5:5, 2Cor 3:18, John 15:26.
The spiritual gifts are to help you serve God in your calling. It is the Holy Spirit who chooses the gifts to give each person depending on the purpose they are to fulfill. The gifts are to bless other members in the body of Christ to help you make money. Freely you have received, freely given. 1Cor 12:7,11. Mathew 10:8
It's a challenge for each to go back to the scriptures and read the bible for yourself. Don't expect that your preacher will read it for you. You may die of spiritual hunger while in the house of bread unless you reach out for the bread yourself.
√ Jesus also spoke about money. He said that you cannot server two masters. The two masters are not God and satan, but God and money. He said it will be hard for those who trust in riches to inherit the kingdom of God. Mark 10:24, Lk 16:13.
Today we here that material wealth is how you measure how much God has blessed you. Jesus said that life is not measured by how rich you are and warned about being greedy for material wealth.
Jesus also talked much about humility. In fact He said that what we need to learn first of all is how to be gentle and humble in heart from Him. Mathew 11:29. He told the disciples that the greatest were those who took the lowest position and served others, and were last. Mat 20:27. Those who possessed the kingdom were the humble. Mathew 18:4.
He linked honesty and humility together as we have seen in many studies. He always waited for an honest acknowledgement of our need... At Cana, healing the blind... and many instances.
Jesus spoke strongly against the hypocrites and even dedicated a whole chapter on it. Luke 23.
He always to to the disciples, follow me.
It's rare to hear the call to follow in Jesus footsteps. The devil has whispered in the ears of many that is is impossible.
What have you learnt from the messages of the gospels between Mathew and Luke.
How has it blessed you?
You can make a comment.
You are blessed to be a blessing
Feel free to share
@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
No comments:
Post a Comment