Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 8:23-27 Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Storms on the Sea of Galilee can be sudden and fierce. The mountains to the east of the Sea of Galilee form natural wind tunnels that funnel winds right on to the lake. During a visit to Israel, my tour group was eating supper at a restaurant on the west bank of the Sea of Galilee. The moon was bright and there was only a mild breeze when we went in to supper. But suddenly we heard roaring winds. Looking out the windows of the restaurant, we could see high waves crashing over the boat dock just outside the restaurant. Later we were told of a group of youngsters who started out floating on inflatable rafts near the shore, only to be blown into the center of the lake when such winds suddenly came up. Local fishermen had to go out in their boats to rescue the kids.

Look at this story critically. Most of Jesus disciples were either local fishermen or citizens of villages around the Sea of Galilee. These men were highly experienced and could foretell the weather by looking at the clouds and testing the wind. Had these men anticipated such a storm, they would certainly not have ventured out onto the lake. But everybody wanted to escape the crowds for a while, and it made sense to cross to the other side of the lake.

Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the boat. Some people say that there was a big leather cushion that was part of the normal equipment in such boats and that Jesus was asleep on that. At any rate, Jesus was undoubtedly exhausted; otherwise, he would have wakened up as soon as the wind picked up and the waves began slapping against the side of the ship. Jesus was so tired that the disciples had to shake him awake before he realized what was going on. Little wonder then, that the disciples were shouting to be heard over the wind, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” Every one of those men had probably lost friends in similar storms and knew how deadly those storms could be. While we would like to flatter ourselves that had we been there, we would have had complete faith in Jesus, the plain fact is that we probably would have been right there shouting at Jesus and shaking him awake also.

You can almost feel sorry for the disciples as Jesus asked them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” How were these guys to know what Jesus was going to do next? They probably weren’t even sure that Jesus could do anything, but they were fearful and desperate. What happened next was beyond description, for Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and everything immediately became calm. The only response the disciples could utter was ,“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

So many times God allows storms to come into our lives. Like the disciples in that boat, all we can think of doing is to beg for deliverance. We are angry and disgusted with God; doesn’t He realize we are suffering? Doesn’t He care? But God brings storms into our lives so that we will witness His power to save and deliver us. When things are going smoothly, we are quite likely to take complete credit for the peace, little realizing that God is the One giving us peace and not we ourselves.

Jesus still has power to save and deliver. A few years ago, a friend and his family were at home one evening when they were suddenly attacked by armed robbers. While the robbers were collecting cell phones and computers, they also threatened to rape his daughters. When the oldest daughter began calling on the name of Jesus, the robbers became angry and agitated and then suddenly left without harming the family.

We make a terrible mistake if we reduce Jesus to the status of a great teacher, or a wise holy man, or a miracle worker, for Jesus is all those things and far more. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God has given him all power and glory to work in heaven and on earth. When we take on the role of a disciple of Jesus, we are allying ourself with the greatest power in the universe. After all, why settle for adulating a sports hero or a movie star or a musician? Sooner or later, every one of those people will disappoint you because they are only human. But Jesus is far more than human and far more powerful than any human hero or heroine can possibly be.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to appreciate You and to worship You. Help us to trust that You have power to save and deliver us from every calamity. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 8:18-22 The Cost of Discipleship

“And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. (of the Sea of Galilee) Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

In the early days, everything was great-the crowds were coming, Jesus was healing people, casting out demons, and teaching glorious things. So if things were going so well, why did Jesus insist on leaving a place of fruitful ministry to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee where they might not even know about him? The answer lies in Jesus’ relationship with his Heavenly Father. The crowds that were now coming were seeking entertainment, not enlightenment. Jesus wasn’t looking for popularity but for God’s will for his ministry. Jesus was not blindly wandering around the shores of the Sea of Galilee but was taking divine instruction on where to go next. Now God the Father was telling Jesus it was time to move on.

During the discourse we know as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus laid out the fundamental principles of the Kingdom of God for most of the people around Capernaum and its surrounding villages. Now it was time to take the Gospel to other places. (Remember that the term “Gospel” means “good news.”

“Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Once Jesus left his parents’ home in Nazareth, he never owned a house of his own but was totally dependent on the charity of others. It’s possible that this scribe was honestly hungry for an experience of the One True Living God and was moved by that passion. But as a scribe, this man already had considerable standing in the community. Jesus was not refusing to allow the man to become a disciple; however, he was warning him that discipleship would cost him his social standing, his reputation within the religious sphere, and the security of remaining in one place with a comfortable home and people to care for him. If this scribe had a business, someone else would have to run the business, and the scribe would have to hope that they would do a good job. Perhaps the scribe’s wife wouldn’t understand and might complain to her parents and to the community at large. Becoming an object of charity, losing his social and financial standing, and having to trust God completely for His provision was something this scribe had never considered.

 “Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Notice that this man was already a disciple, not a casual observer. Many Bible scholars believe that this man’s father was still very much alive and that this man wanted to hang around home until his father died so that he would not miss out on an inheritance. While the Scriptures had always taught reverence for parents, this man was trying to use regard for his father-and whatever he would gain when his father died-as an excuse to delay following Jesus. But Jesus already had a sense of urgency, knowing that his time of ministry would be short. Once someone began giving such excuses, one excuse would follow another and there would never be a “right time” to follow Jesus. This man would have to choose between material gain and spiritual gain, and his choice was already clear.

Who were “the dead who were to bury their dead?”  Here Jesus was likely referring to those who were spiritually dead and were content to remain at home, never even considering discipleship. But these people were those from whom this would-be disciple would have to wrest his inheritance. Perhaps this man was the eldest son and was set to receive a double portion of his father’s goods if he was present when his father died. For this man, money and possessions were more important than following Jesus, no matter how high-sounding his excuses.

When we read of Jesus calling his disciples, we might not realize the sacrifices they made for their discipleship. According to the Vineyard Community Church Richmond, Jesus’ disciples made many sacrifices when he called them to leave their ordinary lives and follow him: 

• Gave up careers: They left their productive trades, such as fishing and tax collecting, to become spiritually productive. 
• Left loved ones: They left their wives, children, and comfortable homes. 
• Lost status: They lost their clout in their communities and good friends and families. 

Jesus also said that following him meant putting away selfish desires and carrying a cross every day. Some say that disciples of Christ are called to be “dead to this world” and to live a life of sacrifice for Christ and others. (Vineyard Community Church Richmond, March 9, 2020)

When we were first preparing to leave for the mission field, we needed a place to stay for two months. When I quoted Jesus’ descriptions of foxes and birds, some friends immediately offered us the use of a small house for those months. In more than four decades of marriage we have never owned a house but have depended on the charity of friends. But sharing accommodation has numerous advantages, chief of which is forging very strong friendships that have stood the test of time. We have not owned a vehicle in America since 1998 but have borrowed vehicles, occasionally renting them when necessary. We can testify with conviction that discipleship costs, but the prize of knowing Jesus is worth far more than any amount of sacrifice.

There were many who wished to follow Jesus but who were unwilling to pay the price. What must those people have felt when they heard of Jesus’ death and resurrection? Did many of these people become Jesus followers later? We can hope so. But during Jesus’ ministry, many listened but did not commit. Today there are those who are attracted to Jesus but who refuse to pay the price because they have no idea what they are missing. These people may be stirred while hearing a Gospel message but once their enthusiasm cools, they back off. If this is your condition, please study the words of this old country Gospel song.

I’m Tired of Being Stirred But Not Being Changed
1. Have I heard it for so long that He’s just another song?
Has the story lost its thrill that I once knew?
Lord, give me a burden that’s so strong,
That it will last when my tears are gone.
I’m tired of what I’ve been. Lord, make me over again.

2. But this time Lord change me, let the work begin just now,
this time Lord change me, please change me somehow,
this time Lord change me, let my life be rearranged,
I’m so tired of being stirred but not being changed.

Chorus
I’m so tired of being stirred about the lost who need to hear.
I’m so tired of being stirred that His coming is so near;
I’m so tired of being stirred till I cry bitter tears.
I’m so tired of being stirred but not being changed.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please change us! We are fed up with compromise; yet, that’s what we keep doing. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Matthew 8:14-17 Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

Many Healed in the Evening

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

Today is the day of ballyhoo. Ballyhoo has been defined as “to praise or publicize extravagantly.” Whether on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, or some other social media, people trumpet their achievements at every opportunity, adding selfie photos as well. But how did Jesus minister? These two short vignettes give a screenshot of Jesus’ practice of ministry.

Jesus entered Peter’s home in Capernaum and found that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. This fever might have been pneumonia, typhoid, malaria, or some viral illness; perhaps she even had cholera and was dehydrating at an alarming rate. Whatever the malady, this busy housewife had been forced to take to her bed. We don’t know this lady’s name, but let’s call this lady Mariam. As a conscientious hostess expecting an honored guest, the last thing Mariam would do would be to lie down for any reason, so she was obviously quite sick, perhaps even dying.

Did Jesus pray a lengthy prayer over Mariam or wave his hands and cut off curses, or summon others so that they could conduct a prayer meeting and scream at the Devil? No. Jesus touched Mariam’s hand and she was healed immediately. Once healed, Mariam immediately got up and served her guests as tradition demanded.

There’s no record that anybody said anything outside the house; however, obviously some nosy neighbor was watching and ran off to inform the community. How do we know this? “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

Word spreads fast in a small town and Capernaum likely had about 1500 residents in Jesus’ day. Jesus and the disciples had just finished supper when there was a knock on the door. Peter walked outside to find that most of Capernaum plus many of the surrounding villages were now on his doorstep. At that point, Peter may well have panicked and called out to Jesus, “Lord, there’s a huge crowd outside! What are we going to do?” Jesus simply smiled and told Peter, “No problem. Get them to line up in the order in which they arrived, and I’ll do the rest.”

After Peter had arranged the petitioners, Jesus began walking down the line, speaking to the demons and healing all the sick. Although Peter was certain that this process would take all night, Jesus worked calmly and efficiently. As soon as one person was healed or delivered, they would leave so another could take his/her place. There was no rush, but Matthew records that Jesus healed ALL who were sick, without neglecting anybody. Within a few hours, everyone had been cared for and had left praising God. What truly amazed the disciples was that as Jesus was ministering, he was calling all these people by name without their informing him ahead of time. What Matthew does not describe but what is indubitably true is that each time Jesus reached out to someone or spoke to someone, he looked at them with eyes full of love.

Centuries later, Henry Twells, a British cleric wrote a lovely hymn describing that scene at Peter’s home in Capernaum. There are no prayers more eloquent than the final stanzas of this hymn.

AT EVEN, ERE THE SUN WAS SET

1 At even, ere the sun was set,
the sick, O Lord, around thee lay;
O in what divers pains they met!
O with what joy they went away!

2 Once more ’tis eventide, and we
oppressed with various ills draw near;
what if thy form we cannot see?
we know and feel that thou art here.

3 O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel;
for some are sick, and some are sad,
and some have never loved thee well,
and some have lost the love they had;

4 And some have found the world is vain,
yet from the world they break not free;
and some have friends who give them pain,
yet have not sought a friend in thee;

5 And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
for none are wholly free from sin;
and they who fain would serve thee best
are conscious most of wrong within.

6 O Saviour Christ, thou too art man;
thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried;
thy kind but searching glance can scan
the very wounds that shame would hide.

7 Thy touch has still its ancient power;
no word from thee can fruitless fall:
Hear, in this solemn evening hour,
and in thy mercy heal us all.

Matthew 8:5-13″Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him. ”The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. ”When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”

The centurion respected Jesus’ authority and his servant was healed. Disciples respect their master’s authority. But does our respect match that of the centurion? Many of us who are “sons of the kingdom” behave as if our Master has no authority whatsoever. Others respect Jesus as long as his will appears to match theirs. Disciples don’t get to pick and choose when to obey or to respect. We must discipline ourselves to trust and obey even when we don’t understand. May God help us to truly respect, to truly trust, and truly obey!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to realize You have all authority and to be obedient. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Matthew 8:1-4 “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Recently, we passed through our regional capital. As we made our way down the main streets of town, we saw poster after poster advertising a local evangelist who would be conducting healing services for several nights. These posters promised signs and wonders and miracles. While such advertising is quite common, the question is this: Did Jesus advertise his miracles?

Look at the setting. Jesus has just finished delivering the teachings known to us as the Sermon on the Mount and is now surrounded by huge crowds who follow him wherever he goes. Suddenly, a leper staggers into Jesus’ path, kneeling before Jesus and begging Jesus to heal him.

According to Mosaic law, lepers were social outcasts and were barred from any public gathering. Anyone touching a leper would become ritually unclean and would have to go through special rituals for cleansing. This poor man was taking a terrible risk, for zealous believers might start throwing stones at him to drive him away so that they would not accidentally touch him and become unclean in the process.

It’s likely that this leper might not have felt any human touch for several years; yet, Jesus doesn’t hesitate but immediately reaches out and touches the leper. Does Jesus make any announcement or encourage the crowd to watch? Does Jesus ask for someone to play special music or to sound a trumpet? No. Jesus quietly touches the leper and says, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Power goes out from Jesus, the leper is instantly healed, and Jesus tells the man, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

“See that you tell no one?” Jesus? What are you thinking? Here you have a golden opportunity to demonstrate your power before an entire crowd and yet you have gone off in a corner with an untouchable, healed him, and then ordered him not to tell anyone but simply follow the rules laid down by Moses. Not only that, Jesus wants this man to go to the priest and make the appropriate offering “as a testimony to them.”

Who is the “them” to whom Jesus is referring? The priests-Jesus wants this man’s healing to be a testimony to the priests. Those regulations have been in the Mosaic Law for more than 1500 years, and this might be the first time any leper has ever been healed. Jesus realizes that this leper is well known around town. When those priests see this man and examine him, finding him whole and healthy, they will have no choice apart from praising God and gaining in their faith.

Recently, an elderly man of God prayed simple prayers over the two of us for healing. We were sitting in a corner at a conference and there was nothing dramatic or noisy about those prayers; yet, both of us felt remarkably better immediately.

If we are to be true disciples, we must follow the pattern laid down for us by our Master, Jesus. Later on, the Book of Acts describes many miraculous healings when Peter and other disciples pray in the Name of Jesus. Not once do any of these men take credit but instead, they give all the glory to Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with praying for people for healing or for deliverance. But Jesus never advertised and therefore we don’t have to behave as if we are anything apart from being channels of God’s grace. Advertise Jesus? Certainly! Advertise ourselves and we risk being sent away as partners in lawlessness.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to quietly do good, following your pattern. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 7:24-29  Build on the Rock

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

In the last few decades, several ministries that once appeared to be solid have now fallen apart. What has happened? In some cases, the ministry made a good start, but either leadership changed personnel or the leaders lost sight of their calling and God’s will for them. But yet another problem may have been a shaky foundation in the wrong location.

What does Jesus say about those listening to his teachings? “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them…” Good disciples must begin by listening to their Master and following His leading completely. Discipleship means submission to the Master in every regard, not arguing, or complaining, or attempting to change the Master’s teachings so that they are more palatable.

“I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Part of being a disciple is recognizing the authority of the Master and the wisdom of the Master. Yet another part of discipleship is consistency; you can’t accept the Master’s teachings today and succumb to doubts, changing your mind tomorrow if you want true wisdom.

James 1:5-8 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Asking in faith without doubting allows us to build spiritual houses on the Rock of Jesus Christ.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” When we are double-minded, we will be unstable in all our ways, and as soon as we come under any stress, our spiritual houses will be swept away in a tide of doubts and disappointments.

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  While we are not able to hear Jesus utter these teachings, we can trust the reaction of the people who did hear them. Those people had heard enough religious experts that they recognized true spiritual authority when Jesus was teaching. Many if not all of those people eventually became Jesus followers despite all opposition because they had faith that Jesus was sent from God to give them this message.

If you consider yourself to be a disciple of Jesus, what is the basis for your discipleship? Are you really trusting Jesus, or are you trusting in your own righteousness? Trust in yourself and you will be as foolish as the man who built his house on the sand. Notice that Jesus did not say, “If you hear my words and trust in your ideas about me…” Jesus did not say, “If you decide that you like what I am saying…” Jesus doesn’t give any of us choices apart from hearing his sayings and doing them. David Yonggi Cho once told an American evangelist that the secret of his ministry was simple: “I pray and I obey.” For any of us wanting to be disciples, we should follow that advice. Pray and obey.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to pray, to obey, and to do Your teachings. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Matthew 7:21-23 I Never Knew You

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

We have considered false prophets, their fruit, and their horrible results. But what about the GOOD people who have prophesied, cast out demons, and worked miracles, all in the Name of Jesus? What’s wrong with those things? Isn’t that precisely what Jesus has commanded us to do? If we are working in Jesus’ Name, how can we possibly go wrong?

True, all those things are good; however, the key phrase here is “he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” God may honor our efforts, not because we are worthy, but because those coming to us desperately need help. Remember that God once spoke to Balaam through a donkey. Yet another consideration: Have we been doing what God wants us to do or have we been using God’s name while doing our own will?

Prophesy can be fatally attractive. Utter a few prophecies and you soon learn how to put that quaver in your voice and vary the tone and pitch of your voice to impress the maximum number of people. Throw in a few key phrases such as “Thus says the Lord,” and your audience will all sit there going, “OOOH! This man/woman really speaks for the Lord!” Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit may be sitting there crying out, “That’s NOT from me! Where did you get that stuff? Don’t listen to him/her!”

Casting out demons is another sure-fire crowd pleaser, particularly if you scream at the demons or demand their names. Funny thing, nowhere does the Bible record that Jesus ever screamed at a demon. Jesus simply spoke with the voice of authority and the demons left. Sometimes, Jesus would actually urge people NOT to tell anybody about his work as an exorcist. Why would God allow someone to exercise authority over a single demon when they are showing off rather than giving Him glory? God sometimes uses those with hidden agendas because He wants to bless innocent seekers. God may use someone to cast out a demon because nobody else is available.

Finally, there are miracles. Do obedient believers work miracles in Jesus’ name? Absolutely! But those who truly work miracles frequently work them very quietly so that God will get the credit and not them. Kathryn Kuhlman was one of the most prolific miracle workers of her generation of evangelists. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was so strong that sometimes people who were simply waiting to enter her meetings would get healed before the meeting ever started. But Kuhlman was careful to always give all the credit to God, refusing to take any credit for herself. Other evangelists have been far less humble and far more willing to take all the credit; in fact, some evangelists have gone so far as to plant people in the audience  who will fake healings.    

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” OUCH! God knows the human heart and God knows if we are working for Him or against Him. When we take credit for anything God has done, we become practitioners of lawlessness, no matter what explanations we might give.

The warning for would-be disciples is simple: be available but give God all the glory and allow Him to work as He wills and not as you will. Anything else is lawlessness!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to work only as You want us to and to always give You the credit, realizing that apart from You, we can do nothing. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 7: 15-20 You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad 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. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

It’s been called “deadly nightshade,” and in the days when kids used to walk country lanes to one-room school houses, many children ate those purple berries and died as a result. Wikipedia tells us, “Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and aubergine. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, including Turkey.”

“Although the berries might be the most tempting part of Deadly nightshade, all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. It causes a range of symptoms including blurred vision, a rash, headaches, slurred speech, hallucinations, convulsions and eventually death.” (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/deadly-nightshade#:~:text=Although%20the%20berries%20might%20be,hallucinations%2C%20convulsions%20and%20eventually%20death.) 

In the same way belladonna appears attractive but is poisonous, so the teachings of false prophets are also poisonous. One tragic example of such a prophet is the late Jim Jones. In the beginning, starting in 1955, Jones attracted large numbers of people with his apparently Christian teachings that also included large amounts of social action. Many of the people who joined Jones were the very people any pastor would love to have in his church: hard-working, dedicated Christians, and willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. But the longer Jones continued in his ministry, the more those same people found themselves and their families being totally controlled by Jones. Some of Jones’ members realized the danger and got out; however, more than 1000 followed Jones to Guyana, where he established Jonestown. On the morning of November 18, 1978, 100 people defected and fled to Georgetown, Guyana. At least 918, including many small children, drank poisoned Kool-Aid on Jones’ orders and died. Jones shot himself, committing suicide, leaving a horrific example of rotten fruit.

How can you tell a false prophet? Look at the fruits and the teaching. Any teacher who modifies the Bible or sets it aside is automatically suspect. What are the fruits of the ministry? Are people finding freedom in Jesus, or are they coming into bondage to the prophet? Is the prophet actually glorifying Jesus, or is he promoting himself? (And there are false prophetesses as well. The Book of Revelation describes one such woman as a Jezebel.)

Yet another vitally important part of discernment is prayer. If you pray, God can enlighten you about the validity of a ministry. If you have no peace in your spirit about such a ministry, leave it!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please help us to always look to You for wisdom and not to someone else. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 7:13-14 The Narrow Way

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because [how] narrow is the gate and [confined] difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

It’s been called “a maimed life.” The phrase was first used by Thomas Wedgewood (1771-1805). Thomas Wedgwood was an English photographer and inventor. He is most widely known as an early experimenter in the field of photography. He is the first person known to have thought of creating permanent pictures by capturing camera images on material coated with a light-sensitive chemical. (Wikipedia) But Wedgewood was more than a scientist; he was also a Bible-believing Christian and a disciple of Jesus.

Here is what Oswald Chambers says in My Utmost for His Highest, June 29^th about a maimed life: “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off 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 5:30

Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but — “If your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off.” There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but, says Jesus, if it hinders you in following His precepts, cut it off. This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind.

When God alters a man by regeneration, the characteristic of the life to begin with is that it is maimed. There are a hundred and one things you dare not do, things that to you and in the eyes of the world that knows you are as your right hand and your eye, and the unspiritual person says — “Whatever is wrong in that? How absurd you are!” There never has been a saint yet who did not have to live a maimed life to start with. But it is better to enter into life maimed and lovely in God’s sight than to be lovely in man’s sight and lame in God’s. In the beginning Jesus Christ by His Spirit has to check you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. See that you do not use your limitations to criticise someone else.

It is a maimed life to begin with, but in v.48 Jesus gives the picture of a perfectly full-orbed life — “Ye shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

When I was growing up, there were many things I wanted to do because my friends were doing them; however, my parents would steadfastly refuse while saying, “You’re MY kid, and I don’t want you doing ….” If we are to be disciples, we must accept the fact that we are God’s kids, and HE gets to dictate our behavior. We also must realize that the things God allows others to do may be total poison for us. Recovering alcoholics know that while others might have a beer or a glass of wine occasionally, for them it would spell disaster, for it might tip them back into alcoholism.

Disciples must obey the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit says, “NO!” we must stop and examine to see why the Spirit is protesting. As soon as we begin arguing, we grieve the Holy Spirit, our Heavenly Father, and Jesus. “Obedience is better than sacrifice” is still a fundamental law of the Kingdom. When we are obedient to the Spirit’s leading and refuse to indulge in something we know is not right, we will find that our lives are better and straighter as a result. Our sole desire should be to please God and not other people.

Today, pray and ask God if there are things you are failing to do or things that you persist in doing that are preventing you from entering that narrow gate. Trust that God can communicate in ways you will understand.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to accept Your goals for our lives rather than our own. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Note: Yes, this is being posted on August 20th. A double attack of malaria plus typhoid hit me somewhere between Rome and Chicago, leaving me feverish and weak. I’m getting better, thanks to lots of prayers.

Matthew 7:7-12 Ask, Seek, Knock (Luke 11:5-13)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Here Jesus is speaking to his disciples standing before him, but he is also speaking to us as well. Some people who claim to be Jesus followers seem to feel they must walk around with gloomy faces, as if they were always suffering. Such people are lousy advertising; most of us have plenty of trouble with taking on a religion that only promises more gloom and doom. But when Jesus was here on earth, he was probably the most joyful man ever known. Part of Jesus’ secret was simple: he was in constant contact with his Heavenly Father, and therefore in constant contact with the joyful praise around His throne. It is from this perspective that Jesus is giving this advice to all his disciples, present and future.

“Ask and it will be given to you…” My parents came out of the Great Depression, and for years, my dad was a tenant farmer. As a child, I learned not to ask for anything, because the money would not be available and I would embarrass my parents. But Jesus is speaking of his Heavenly Father, the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe. God the Father says of himself in Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me?” God wants to give us Himself and His Holy Spirit first and then provide our needs. Notice, needs, not wants. And we must trust God’s timing, for we want assurances ahead of time while God plans to provide just as we need something. Part of becoming a disciple is learning to trust God’s provision and timing.

“Seek and you will find…” Yet another part of discipleship is being willing to seek and to seek hard enough and long enough to secure our goals. Today so many of us are addicted to cell phones and televisions that give instant gratification that we have become quite lazy. The very idea of a spiritual quest is abhorrent-ooh! Suffering! Who needs it? Yet, if we really want God’s best, we must get out of our comfort zones and search actively. A song from The Sound of Music tells us to “Climb every mountain. Ford every stream. Follow every rainbow till you find your dream.” And we must ask God the Father to give us the dreams He wants us to seek and guide us in the search.

“…knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” What a simple statement-right? No. Sadly, many people have had doors slammed in their faces or have been denied simple things, particularly in their families of origin. Childhoods cursed by denials, criticism, resentment, and abuse have left many fearing to attempt to ask or to seek or to knock for fear of further rejection and pain. But abusive families have existed since the beginning of time, and Jesus knows there are those in the crowd who want to believe but who are fearful.

What Jesus is saying here is simple: Never mind your previous experiences! My Heavenly Father is NOT like your earthly fathers have been. My Heavenly Father WILL give generously and completely, and He WILL open the door when you knock, even if you are using your last breath to do so.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” One thing we must realize is that fatherhood in Jesus’ day was respected far more than it is in contemporary America, although that depends on the culture in which you have been raised. In Jesus’ day, fathers were expected to provide well for their families, and the idea of substituting something harmful or hurtful would be unthinkable. Many cultures expect fathers to give nothing but good things to their children. Some of the most common names in the Konkomba tribe begin with the phrase “Nte” meaning “My father.”

What Jesus is advising us here is simple: The Heavenly Father is far more perfect than any earthly father can possibly be. God can give good things to those who ask Him because He understands their needs perfectly. Our task as disciples is to continue to ask and then to expect God to answer; however, we must recognize that sometimes God’s answers are different from the ones we have been expecting. We must allow God plenty of “wiggle room” and keep an open mind if we are truly to receive from Him.

I am currently recovering from typhoid/malaria that began manifesting in the middle of our transcontinental journey. I began having shaking chills in the airplane between Rome and Chicago. Could God have prevented this? Of course. But God has allowed these illnesses for some reason that will become apparent eventually. Prior to leaving Ghana, we tried to think about scheduling; however, something prevented us. Now we realize that we would have committed to a schedule that I would have been unable to keep. We know that God’s timing is perfect, so we are simply waiting on Him and trusting He will open doors for us.

“In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.” Why does Jesus add this as a tag end to his teaching about asking, seeking, and knocking? Sometimes we disciples get so caught up in OUR ministry, OUR goals, OUR needs, that we lose sight of those around us. Jesus wants us to remember that we should receive with open hands, ready to pass on blessings to those around us and not grasping those blessings with clenched fists. As long as we keep our hands open, God can continue to pour out blessings and those blessings can also flow to all those around us. When we receive freely, we must also give freely, trusting that God the Heavenly Father will continue to pour out blessings to us for us to pass on to others.

Jesus is inviting all who want to be disciples to trust in his Heavenly Father. This invitation is as much for you as it was for those who first heard Jesus teach these things. From our experiences, we can say, “Come on in! The water’s fine!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust that when we ask, seek, and knock, that You will answer us in ways far better than our original requests. Help us also to receive with open hands so that the blessings will flow to all around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.