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Quality Prayer
Matthew 6:7, 'But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.'
MATTHEW 6:5-8
Some of the most effective prayers are the shortest prayers. Jesus said, 'Peace, be still,' and the wind and the waves ceased (Mk. 4:39). He said, 'Lazarus, come forth,' and Lazarus came back from the dead (Jn. 11:43-44).
Today, there is a new emphasis on the quantity of prayer instead of the quality of prayer. Jesus never advocated long prayers, and there are only a few instances where Jesus prayed long prayers. This is not to say that communion with God is not important. It certainly is, but formal prayer is only one part of our communion with the...
More Than Just Words
Matthew 5:33, 'But let your communication be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.'
MATTHEW 5:33-37
A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus' teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth. Our word should be our bond.
We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came. Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.
Very few people conduct business anymore with...
Commandments Lead To Happiness
Matthew 5:32, 'But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, save for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.'
MATTHEW 5:31-32
God's commandments are not intended to make us miserable--they're meant for our own happiness. Satan's lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God's motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
Malachi 2:15 says God hates divorce. God doesn't hate the people who divorce. He hates the act of divorce because of the damage it does to people. God loves people.
Today, people see divorce as an easy way out of marital problems. But this is based on the misconception that...
Spiritual Fitness
Matthew 5:29, 'And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.'
MATTHEW 5:23-30
Is Jesus advocating dismembering of our bodies? Quite the contrary. He is drawing on the universal drive within every person of self preservation to make a point. If you value your body highly enough that you would never sacrifice one of its parts, then you should esteem your spiritual well being much higher.
Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, man's priorities have been misplaced. Great effort is put into preserving our physical life while our spiritual condition is often overlooked....
The Best Sinner
Matthew 5:20, 'For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.'
MATTHEW 5:17-22
What did Jesus mean? Since the Pharisees fasted twice each week, does this mean we have to fast three times each week? Since they paid tithes on everything including spices, does this mean that anyone who fails to tithe is doomed to hell?
No! Definitely not. The Pharisees' righteousness was based on their actions. Jesus is advocating a righteousness that is based on faith in what He did for us.
Trusting in our own actions will never grant us access to God. We may be better than others, but who wants to be the...
LET GOD CHOOSE