Matthew 6:9-10 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. When we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are asking God to help us follow the example of the angels and other creatures who serve God faithfully in the heavenly realms (see Revelation 4-5). We are praying that we may have the strength and the guidance to do God’s will as we live here on earth, as citizens of God’s kingdom—here and now. As God’s children, we want to serve him willingly and cheerfully. But as anyone who has been tempted knows, there are also powerful forces, led by Satan, that try to lure God’s people away to join them in rebellion. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” All who have been redeemed through Christ are given new, eternal life. Yet we continue to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ living in us to live faithfully each day for the glory of God and his kingdom. That is why we pray, “Your will be done. . . .” In what ways are you doing God’s will today?
Psalm 18:30, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” THIS VERSE TEACHES US We can trust God and His word. Put your trust in God, not human beings. Jeremiah 17:5-7 “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” Psalm 37:3-5, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” THIS VERSE TEACHES US TO First trust God and do what He calls you to do, then He will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” THIS VERSE TEACHES US TO Trust God, even when we don’t understand it all.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Zeal is passionate devotion, often expressed as fervent enthusiasm for God, righteousness, or a cause. In Scripture, it can be righteous (aligned with God’s will) or misguided (driven by ignorance or pride). Christian zeal is not loud and noisy, but humbly grows in faithfulness. It’s in the Bible, 2 Peter 1:5-8, NKJV. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” Jesus cannot use us if we are complacent. It’ s in the Bible, Revelation 3:15-16, 19, NKJV. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth….As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” Zeal for God is being single-minded. It’s in the Bible, James 4:8, NKJV. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” → Zeal without knowledge can be misdirected, as Paul says of Israel. Romans 10:2 “I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided.”
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
What does the Bible say about God’s help in difficult times?
1. Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 2. Psalm 91:14-15 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 3. Psalm 50:15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 4. Psalm 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. 5. 2 Samuel 22:33 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 6. Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Romans 10:17 STATES, So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke. THIS VERSE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. Mark 11:22–24 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. THIS VERSE TEACHES US TO GET RID OF THE DOUBT, LET US TRUST, BELIEVE AND RECEIVE. OUR PRAYER WITHOUT DOUBT HAS POWER, OUR PRAYER WITHOUT DOUBT CAUSES GOD TO MOVE ON OUR BEHALF. Matthew 21:22 Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” LET US NOT FORGET WE SERVE A PRAYER HEARING AND PRAYER ANSWERING GOD. James 1:6–7When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. Psalm 37:5 Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act ⸤on your behalf⸥.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE, AND MAY GOD SHOWER EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WITH ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. AMEN AND AMEN.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don’t know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Galatians 5:16 Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. 1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.
IT IS SO NICE TO RECEIVE REFRESHERS FROM GOD. DO YOU AGREE?
JUDGING OTHERS (THE MORALIST) (THIS IS A DEEP STUDY)
Romans 2:1 No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Moralist—Judging Others—Criticism: the moralist. In the eyes of Scripture a moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they should. He is moral, upright, just, good, decent, and honorable. The moralist has strong values, standards, and principles. He is well disciplined and able to control his life. He lives just as everyone thinks he should. He knows right from wrong and he lives it. He knows how to behave and he does it. In the eyes of society he is just what a person should be. He is a good neighbor, an excellent worker and provider, and an ideal citizen. But note three things. a. The moralist judges others. The word judge (krino) means to criticize, to find fault, to condemn. This is the terrible flaw of the moralist. Note: any person becomes a moralist when he sets himself up as a judge of others. Any time we judge another person, we are declaring that we … • are living by some rule that another person is not living by • are more moral than someone else • are better than someone else • are superior to someone else • are more righteous than someone else • are more acceptable to God than someone else Judging others says, “I am right, and he is not. I succeed, but he fails.” Therefore … • “Look at me, but ignore him” • “Draw near to me, but shun him” • “Esteem me, but put him down” • “Approve me, but condemn him” • “Be my friend, but withdraw from him” Very simply, judging others raises self and lowers others, exalts self and debases others; and in the eyes of God this is wrong. It is sin. It is being full of self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance. It sets self up as a moralist, and it makes a person judgmental and critical. “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Mt. 7:1). “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Ro. 14:4). “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Ro. 14:13). “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (Js. 4:12). b. The moralist is inexcusable, and he condemns himself because he does the very same things. He fails just as the man whom he judges fails. Scripture says … “Thou that judgest doest the same things” (Ro. 2:1). “[All] temptation is common to man” (1 Co. 10:13). “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (Mt. 5:21–22). “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:27–28). In God’s eyes, sin is a matter of the heart and mind, not just an act. The thought and desire makes a person just as guilty as the act itself. God knows that many would carry out their thoughts if they had the courage or opportunity. God knows the heart, the mind, and the thoughts. Sin, whether thoughts in the mind or acts in public, comes short of God’s glory. All stand guilty before God; therefore, the moralist, the person who judges, is as guilty as the one judged. It is for this reason that we are not to judge, criticize, and find fault with others. “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Mt. 7:3). “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” (Ro. 2:21–22). “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Ga. 2:14). “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit. 1:16). Thought 1. This point does not mean that judicial systems of the state are wrong nor that discipline is not to be exercised within families, organizations, and the church. Scripture teaches that both justice and discipline are to be exercised by men. What Scripture means is this: we are not to go around criticizing and finding fault with each other and putting each other down when one of us fails. Instead we are to reach out and try to redeem and help each other. Imagine what a different world this would be if all tongues were stopped! If all criticism and fault-finding ceased! If everyone actually reached out and tried to redeem and save those who failed! “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga. 6:1–2). “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations [to criticize and judge]” (Ro. 14:1). “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Ro. 15:1). “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Co. 9:22). “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Th. 5:14). “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (Js. 2:15–16). “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (Js. 3:10).
LET ME KNOW IF YOU ENJOYED THIS DEEP STUDY. DO YOU FEEL THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE DEEP STUDIES?
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Paul reminds the church that they were once dead in their sin, with no hope, BUT God made them alive in Christ. Paul calls believers to live in a way that is worthy of the gift that God has given them. In this section Paul gives examples of what a new life in Christ looks like in relationships. Paul details the life believers are meant to have in Christ. Even though it is a free gift from God, that we can do nothing to earn, it is a new life, with a new standard. He goes through a list of all the things church members should not be doing, but the whole list can be summed up in this last verse. “Be kind and compassionate.” If this one verse is followed, all the rest will fall into place. And they are not being told to forgive one another because it is easy, or the right thing to do, or because anyone deserves it, but because no one deserves it, and God forgave us through Christ anyway. This letter was written to the church in Ephesus, but it could have just as easily been written to any local church today. As a believer you have been given a new life in Christ, and God has given us clear guidance on what to do with that life. He calls us to rise above anger, deceit, and malice, and to give the compassion and forgiveness that we are capable of only through Christ. Zechariah 7:10 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other. Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don’t even think of doing evil to each other. Matthew 6:14–15 “If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of God’s kingdom. Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom. Those children who are of years sufficient to sin, and to be saved by faith, have to listen to the gospel and to receive it by faith: and they can do this, God the Holy Spirit helping them. There is no doubt about it, because great numbers have done it. I will not say at what age children are first capable of receiving the knowledge of Christ, but it is much earlier than some fancy; and we have seen and known children who have given abundant evidence that they have received Christ and have believed in Him at a very early age.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL.
Most churches in America are throwing away their Bibles and believing in lies. If you are in a church that looks like the world, acts like the world, does not have sound doctrine, supports homosexuality and even has homosexuals working in the ministry, supports abortion, the prosperity gospel, etc. These are clear reasons to leave that church. If your church is about business and not about Christ that is a clear reason. Watch out for these fake powerless churches these days. Be careful because sometimes we want to leave the church for dumb reasons such as a small argument with someone or “my pastor is a Calvinist and I’m not.” Sometimes people want to leave for neutral reasons such as there is a biblical church in your area and now you don’t have to drive 45 minutes to get to church. Whatever the reason you must pray thoroughly. Trust in God and not yourself.
1. False Gospel Galatians 1:7-9 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 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.
2. False teachings Titus 3:10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him. Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 2 Peter 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
3. If they deny Jesus is God in the flesh. John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. John 10:33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
4. Members are not being disciplined. Sin is running wild in the church. (Most churches in America are filled with false converts who don’t care about God’s Word anymore.) Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
5. Elders with unrepentant sin. 1 Timothy 5:19-20 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
6. They never preach on sin. God’s Word will offend people. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.
7. If the church wants to be like the world. If it wants to be hip, trendy, water down the gospel, and compromise. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
8. Unholy living is tolerated. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 2 Timothy 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Matthew 15:8 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Romans 2:24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
9. Hypocrisy
2 Timothy 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Matthew 15:8 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Romans 2:24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
10. Using money improperly. If people are passing the offering basket around four times in one service there is a problem. Is the church all about Christ or is it all in His name? 2 Corinthians 8:18-21 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
