Brothers and sisters, when was the last time you read the book of Matthew? We think we know everything that's in there from Sunday school. But I bet you never heard these passages (things Jesus Himself said) in Sunday school:
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will had you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles." Matthew 10:16-18
"Do not think I came to bring peace on earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39
"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:8-12
We must take the words of our Lord literally. Perhaps you have heard these words explained away by religious leaders. Perhaps you have found yourself explaining them away. Are you willing to be scourged in the synagogue (the religious gathering place of Jesus' day)? Do you love father or mother more than Jesus? Do you seek to be called teacher, Father (in terms of religious leadership), or leader? Do you call others these things? Do you recognize that we have one Teacher, one Father, one Leader and that we are all brothers?
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will had you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles." Matthew 10:16-18
"Do not think I came to bring peace on earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39
"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:8-12
We must take the words of our Lord literally. Perhaps you have heard these words explained away by religious leaders. Perhaps you have found yourself explaining them away. Are you willing to be scourged in the synagogue (the religious gathering place of Jesus' day)? Do you love father or mother more than Jesus? Do you seek to be called teacher, Father (in terms of religious leadership), or leader? Do you call others these things? Do you recognize that we have one Teacher, one Father, one Leader and that we are all brothers?
Thank you for challenging me, sister. Keep bringing it. Only the Lord knows what would happen if we started believing Him and obeying Him. May the Lord raise up a church that will do just that. We'll see the world turned upside down :-)
ReplyDeleteAmen amen amen. Build your Church Lord!
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