Note from the Sermon on the Mount

 My Bible study class has been studying the Beattitudes in the 5th chapter of Matthew.   Last week we studied Matthew 5:8….take a look at this verse and then the 5 points that follow.   We can see God!!  We can ONLY be pure in heart by the GRACE and MERCY of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

Matthew 5:8  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

How to Become Wholly Holy

1. Pray regularly  

The Psalm writers often prayed for purity of heart. See, for example, Psalm 51:10, Create

in me a pure heart, O God, and Psalm 139:23-24, 

Search me, O God, and know my

heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

2. Guard tenaciously

Purity of heart is one of your most precious commodities. Realize that all sorts of evil

forces will seek to rob you of it, so take precautions. Guard what your eyes see, what your

mind thinks upon, and what your body does. 

Offer your bodies as living sacrifi ces,

holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). And, Above all else, guard your heart, for it

is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).

 

 

 

3. Read devotionally

A heart full of Scripture will engage in holy pursuits. Psalm 119:9-11 reads,

 

 

 

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my

heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

4. Confess Immediately 

When you recognize sin in your life, deal with it instantly. Breathe out a prayer of confession

and commit to make an immediate change in thought or direction.

If we confess our

sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

5. Imagine creatively

See yourself as a holy person. Think like a warrior-servant of God. Each morning,

mentally suit up in your spiritual armor and envision yourself moving out as an agent

of the kingdom. Use your imagination to your advantage, and be transformed by the

renewing of your mind! (Romans 12:2).

God Bless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Bonhoeffer stuff….

Matthew 7:7-12

“7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Bonhoeffer has many great quotes in the book “Cost of Discipleship.”  This quote is from chapter 18.

“The disciples are taught to pray, and so they learn that the only way to reach others is by praying to God.  Judgement and forgiveness are always in the hands of God.  He closes and the opens.  But the disciples must ask, they must seek and knock, and then God will hear them.  They have to learn that their anxiety and concern for others must drive them to intercession.”

“The promise Christ gives to their prayer is the doughtiest (boldest) weapon in their armoury.”

Do you know someone that needs a touch from the Master?  Pray for him/her..ask, seek, knock…God will hear you!!!

God Bless!!

“Cost of Discipleship”

I have picked up a book from my collection that is absolutely one of my all-time favorites; “Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoffer.

Bonhoffer was arrested in 1943 and imprisoned and held captive in concentration camps before being put to death by hanging.

He was known as, “a giant before man, but a child before God.”

Here is a quote from the book…

“When a man really gives up trying to make something out of himself –a saint, or a converted sinner, or a churchman (a so-called clerical somebody), a righteous or unrighteous man…when in the fullness of tasks, questions, success or ill-hap, experiences and perplexities, a man throws himself into the arms of God…then he wakes with Christ in Gethsemane.”

Matthew 26:39-44

“39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

 40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

 42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

 43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”

Hope this makes you think….have a great day!

God Bless

Prayer

Father God..

Thank you for this day.  The sun and the breeze energized us today. Your beauty is on display in bright spring colors.

Father, forgive my mistakes today, my missed opportunity to witness, forgive my unbelief, have mercy on this sinner.

Father as I listen to music about your overflow and healing “raining down,” I pray for just that .  I pray for a heavenly anointing of overflow and healing. 

Bless our church, prepare us to minister and to be ministered to in the morning.  May your spirit set people free from their emotional bondage and their stuff.   Let them know that you care about them, not their baggage.

Father, thank you for my family.  Bless them as they sleep.  May your love give them rest, comfort them and minister to them in their dreams.

My heart is full of praise, thank you for freedom to worship and call out to you in the great times, the good times and the times of indifference and pain.

May your Holy Spirit fill our worship center and meet us as we join our hearts for praise and worship.

Father, give us rest, heal our hurts and bless us….May your healing rain on us….

Thank you  Father God….Amen