20150917 JESUS KNOWS

JESUS KNOWS

Matthew 9:3-4 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does He think He's God?"  (4)  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?

Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s there was a radio show that started out this way, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.” It featured a man with powers to cloud men’s minds. Since then it has been made into comics and even a movie. But there is one who really does know what evil lurks in our hearts and His name is Jesus.

Only you and Jesus know what goes in your mind and heart. It is good for us to remember that at all times. I love this verse… Psalms 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Since He already knows what we are thinking it is a good idea to talk to Him about it. Be honest and when you know what you are thinking is wrong, confess it and ask Him for His help. This will please Him more than if you act like you have it all together. Psalms 51:6 But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Father in heaven, You desire truth from us. Give us pure, honest hearts and boldness to speak honestly with You. Thank You that when we confess our sin You forgive us and cleanse us from all uncleanness. In Jesus Name AMEN!!!

20150818 TREASURE HUNT

TREASURE HUNT

Matthew 6:19-21 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  (20)  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  (21)  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

In verse 24 we will look at the word, “Mammon.” “Mammon is a Syriac word, that signifies gain; so that whatever in this world is, or is accounted by us to be, gain (Phi_3:7), is mammon.” –Matthew Henry

The rest of this chapter begs the question, “What do I treasure? What do I consider to be true wealth?” I ask you to take a moment to ask your Heavenly Father to search your heart and give you an answer to that question right now. Please don’t rush through this today. Take some time now or put it on your calendar to do so sometime today.

Jesus points out the temporal state of all earthly treasures. They all fade away or are taken away over time. And they are not all physical, tangible things. In the earlier verses we find those who give, pray and fast for the treasure of the praise of men. Fame is a god for which we have written books, produced television shows and concocted competitions. People give all they have and put themselves through grueling practice and trials to gain a title. Others lose family, friends and health to climb the corporate ladder.

Treasure gained for self-importance, self-indulgence is treasure stored here on earth. It cannot break through to heaven’s shores. It is bound to this planet and chained to its fiery destruction.

Treasure gained for God’s glory and for the aid of others and dispersed in secret is everlasting treasure stored in heavenly lockers. Its full weight and worth will not be known until our works are judged by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15  Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.  (13)  But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value.  (14)  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.  (15)  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

So, what are the desires of your heart? What do you want more than anything else? That is the answer to what you treasure. If the answer still eludes you, take a look at your expenditures and your calendar. What do you spend your money on and what do you spend your time on?

Father in heaven, search our hearts. See if there is any wicked way in us. Show us what we truly treasure and give us hearts willing to change. Put the right desires, Your desires in our hearts for Your glory and for the advancement of Your Kingdom. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

PURE

PURE

Matthew 5:8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Pure – This word translates, “clean.” Psalms 24:3-6 “Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?  (4)  Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.  (5)  They will receive the LORD's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.  (6)  Such people may seek You and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude”

A clean heart, a pure heart? How is this possible for any of mankind? 1 Corinthians 1:30 “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin.” That’s how. Christ does it, did it for us, but note the rest of that verse, “and He freed us from sin.” He saved us that we would live in that freedom He purchased for us with His own blood. So, spiritually we are clean, pure in God’s eyes because of Jesus’ work on the cross, but are we pure in thought?

Psalms 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Why is it important for us to strive for purity in this life if Christ has already taken care of it in the spirit? Paul explains this to us in 2 Timothy 2:21-22. “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  (22)  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” And I like the way the Message paraphrases this passage. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 MSG Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.  (22)  Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness--faith, love, peace--joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

Is your heart pure? If the Savior were looking for someone for a special task would He consider you? Only you and He know the answer.

We have a dish washer for which I am very grateful and most of the time it does a great job getting the dishes clean. But, occasionally a dish will somehow go through all the cycles and still not be clean. I’ve gotten into the habit of looking inside any cups I pull from the cabinet before I fill them. I wouldn’t consider drinking from a dirty vessel. Why would God who is Holy, without spot or wrinkle, pour His Holy Spirit through a dirty vessel?

Those who have such a clean heart are promised that they will see God. We know that no flesh can see Him and live. Moses saw as much of God as was physically possible. In the spirit we can see Him and in eternity we will see Him in all His glory. But even now we can see Him at work like one can see the wind at work by the way it bends a tree or blows a flag. Those who are pure in heart will see this more readily than those whose hearts are full of self and sin. May we be among those who see God.

Father in heaven, as Your servant David prayed, create in us a clean heart. Renew a right spirit within us. Make us clean, usable for Your glory. And may we see You at work in us, around us and through us. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!