Gospel of Matthew

God Cannot Lie, His Word is Truth

portrait of Matthew Evangelist and the first p...

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There is much talk and false prediction about when our Lord and Savior shall return for His people. But as Matthew 24:36 tells us, no man knows the hour. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only (Matthew 24:36). God cannot lie. Therefore, those who pretend to know the hour the Son of Man shall appear are, in essence, challenging the validity of Scripture. “And The Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in My Name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds” (Jeremiah 14:14 RSV).

The Word of God consistently explains itself. Let us turn to Matthew 7 : 15-23 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:15-23 RSV)

How do you know a false prophet? Anyone who twist, alter or distort the Word of God. For example, a couple of months ago, some professing prophet was on TV predicting the end of the world. That in itself is sacrilegious, and should have raised doubt in any true believer’s mind, because God cannot lie. He tells us in his Word that no man knows the hour when He shall return. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up’ (2 peter 3 : 10).

Strengthen Your Faith In God, Not Things

Faith Happens

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I always laugh when someone tells me he or she has no faith, because I know it’s probably not true. Everyone lives by faith to a certain extent. When you go to the doctor, you need faith to trust his diagnosis. When the pharmacy fills your prescription, you have faith that you will receive the proper medicine. when you eat at a restaurant, you trust that the people who serve you have not contaminated or poison the food. (Some restaurants need more faith than others.) Everyday is a walk of faith on some level. Everyone believes in something. “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”” (Romans 12:3).

We choose what we will believe in. Some people choose to believe in themselves, some in government, some in evil, some in science, some in newspapers, some in hard work, some in other people, and some in God. faith is something we cannot live without.

Faith is something we cannot die without either. Our faith determines what happens to us after we leave this world. If you have faith in Jesus, you know that your external future is secure. That’s because “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead…will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). In others words, if the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the  dead dwells in you, He will raise you up as well.

Having certainty about what happens to us when we die will affect greatly how we live today. Confidence in our external future gives us a perspective on living in the present that is laced with confidence as well.

Here is a scary thought! when healing some blind men Jesus said, “According to your faith let it be to you” (Matthew 9:29). Doesn’t that make you want to reevaluate your trust in God? The good news is that this means we have a certain amount of control over our lives and can, to some extent, decide how things are going to turn out for us. Our lives do not have to left up to chance, or allowed to go flopping in the breeze according to whatever wind is blowing at the moment. Our faith will help decide our outcome.

We all have times of doubt. Even Jesus wondered why God had forsaken Him. It wasn’t that he doubted God’s existence or ability to come to His rescue , He just didn’t expect to feel forsaken. Sometimes we do not doubt God”s existence, or whether He can help us, we just doubt His desire to have any immediate impact on our lives. Surly He is too busy for my problems, we think, But the truth is, He is not.

Words Have Consequences: Life Or Death

Have you ever observed a friend or relative who is all talk and no action? There are some folks who spend more time bragging about what they are going to do than actually doing it. They typically never get anywhere. “For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words” (Ecclesiastes 5;3). Dreams do not come true when more time is spent talking about them than praying and working toward achieving them.

Have you been around a person who is angry, crass or ungodly in his or her speech? Their bad language gives listeners a sick and uncomfortable feeling and they don’t want to be around such a person. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). The good things of life seem to overlook those who have nothing good coming from their mouths.

Have you known any one who complains all the time? No matter what is happening, this person finds something to grumble about. “Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crocked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as light in the world” (Philippians 2:15, 15). Negative words bring negative results and thing seldom turn out right for a person who continually uses them.

Are you acquainted with anyone who is quick to speak yet do not seriously consider what he or she is saying? Blurts words without weighing the effect of them. “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20) Much grief is in the future of anyone who does not consider the consequences of his or her spoken words.

Have you seen anyone speak discouragement and pain into someone, a spouse, a child, a friend, a coworker? “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). That person will bring destruction into their own life because of it.

Our words can justify us or condemn us (Matthew 12:37). They can bring us joy. (Proverbs 15:23), or corrupt and dishonor (Matthew 15 :11). What we say can either build up or break down the soul of whomever we are speaking to (Proverbs 15:4). The consequences of what we speak are so great that our words can leads us to ruin or save our lives (Proverbs 13:13)

Everyone has a choice about what he or she says, and there are rewards for making the right one. “Whoever guard his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).

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Beware Of False Christs And Prophets

the Gospel of Matthew

In Matthew 24 Jesus gave His disciples the signs that precede His return at the end of human history. “For many will come in my name, claiming , I am the Christ.’ and will deceive many,” (Matthew 24:5).

The last days will not be characterised by voices coming from different corners of the religious world declaring , “This is the way.” Follow me.” “I am a voice from heaven.” Many people will claim divine light, prophetic powers, and even equality with the Son of God. Men and women will perform amazing miracles and great wonders to “to deceive even the elect–if that were possible” (Verse 24). Such deception will be so overwhelming that even God’s people will be misled.

Cult groups have grown exponentially throughout the world during  recent decades. In survey results first released by USA Today in the mid 1990s some 20,ooo in a sample of 113,000 claimed they accepted the theories of the New Age movement. False religions have increased phenomenally in our generation. Books on paranormal sell in the multimillion  throughout America. Universities offer students classes in nontraditional religions. Many young people who were raised in Christianity have begun to explore non-Christian religions and teachings. Cult especially target those who are searching.

Whether it be the New Age movement admonishing its followers to develop the god within them or cult leaders claiming they are divine, the result is the same deception. The gradual increase of interest in alternative religions and the proliferation of religious leaders claiming divine powers reflect the accuracy of our Lord’s prediction.

Deception is part of Satan’s plan: “They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14).

One thing is certain–such people will not come with a sign around their necks saying, “We are false christs and false prophets.” they’ll simple lead and those who are looking for a leader will follow them.

In March 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult produced a farewell video and then took their own lives. They believe that trailing the Hale-Bopp comet was a spacecraft coming to take them to the next level of existence. Investigators found the victims with purple cloth over their head and shoulders.

In trying to identify the bodies, police set up toll free numbers for relatives to call. In 24 hours they field calls from more than 1,500 anguished  relatives who had been out of contact with their loved ones for months or even years and suspected they might be part of the cult.

Such false christs and false prophets do not limit themselves to any one part of the world. On the continent of Africa religious leaders who claim to heal the sick and raise the dead have arisen. they presents themselves as the new Messiah. Mary David Christ purported to be reincarnation of divinity in Russia. She attracted more than 15,000 followers whom she called the “White Brotherhood.” Central and South America have their  share of counterfeit messiah, Jesus’ words are being fulfilled.

What does the Bible says about abortion?

Children are an inheritance from the Lord that bring blessing , as well as responsibility into the home. The bible revealed that Jesus loved children and referred to their faith as a blue print of that which is necessary for us to do to enter into the kingdom of of heaven. (Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven….Matthew 18:3). It was in this same breath of this proclamation that He also condemn anyone who willfully  injure or harm a child. (Matthew 18:-10…Luke 18:15-17).

Despite the special place of children in the heart of God, recent history has not been so kind to them, particularly before birth. Since the 1980s the Center for Disease Control and prevention has recorded the number of surgical procedures that resulted in abortion to be well over one million per year. Although issues surrounding abortion are quite complex, this estimate of lives terminated before their time is staggering and heart-rending.

There are various theological and scientific arguments put forward as to precisely when a fetus constitutes a person. The big question however, is when does life begins?

Several scriptural references do touch the surface and deserve at best a hearing. Firstly, the sixth commandment forbids killing (Exodus 30:13), while the shedding of innocent blood is listed among the seven deadly sins hated by the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-18). In the calling of the prophet Jeremiah, God declared that he was known before he had been formed in the belly and was sanctified and ordained as a prophet before thou camest forth out of the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). While John the Baptist was in the womb awaiting birth, he leaped for joy when he heard the greeting received by his mother from the Virgin Mary who was herself  carrying the Christ Child at the time (Luke 1:41-44). These passages tend to be very troublesome for those who argue against the right of the unborn.

According to scriptures, the sanctity of life is of high priority but abortion is a subject matter of high complexity, not as easily judged as some would suppose. Even among Christians there is debate  as to whether fetal abortion is ever justified, e.g., when the mother’s life is endangered by a pregnancy. NB: My use of this example is neither to condone the act nor to further confound the issue, but rather to point out its difficulties and thereby emphasize the greater need to minister with compassion to those who have experienced the crisis.

Whether chosen as an alternative to an unwanted pregnancy, or as a last resort to save life, the reality of abortion is traumatic for women who experience it. Hence their desperate need for support and not harsh criticism.