What is Required?

Joy/Cornerstone Life Group:

Have you ever had a mountain top experience where your life was changed?  Last Sunday was one of those moments for me as we climbed to the mountain top  following Jesus, along with Peter, James and John. With these three friends, we came face-to-face with our Glorified Savior during His "awe-inspiring Transfiguration!"  

Now, Jesus has our attention as we come to some applicable lessons which further substantiate the reality that He is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." 

We see, in Matthew 17:14ff, again how Jesus has power over the evil forces of this world as he casts out a demon from a boy; in vss. 22-23, He reiterates His coming Death and Resurrection. So contrary to the disciples understanding, Jesus finds that He must continually teach the necessity of this truth and drive it deep into their hearts, changing their thinking and direction for the rest of their lives.  It is for this purpose that He became the God-Man so that we all might be saved from a devil's hell.

Jesus goes on to teach that He even is Lord over the fish of the sea when the disciples find a coin for the Temple tax in the fish's mouth (Vss. 27ff).  Even though it is "tax-season" don't go fishing in order to find the money to pay your taxes. 😇

Matthew 18 takes us into the questioning minds of the disciples as Jesus defines who really is great in the Kingdom ... it is the one who trusts in God with the simplicity of child-like faith!

Temptation is a malady which everyone of us experiences.  Sometimes we fail as we fall into a troubling sin; but on the other hand, temptation is just that. As we grow and mature in our faith, we gradually become overcomers.  Still, temptation will come and woe to the one who tries to trip up the children of God.
Jesus shows us, in Matthew 18:10ff, that like a sheep which was lost and found, God loves us and will go to any measure to redeem us.  This example is seen in Romans 5:8 where Paul writes, "While we were still in our sin (lost sheep), God showed His love for us in this...that Christ died for us!

If we were redeemed while enemies with God, wouldn't it behoove us to act the same way toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Vss. 15-20 talk about doing all we can to restore one who is caught up in sin. When we gather to deal with an unrepentant soul, Jesus will be there to guide us in love.

The next lesson Jesus teaches the disciples is to have the mind and heart of God and always be forgiving and not selfish.  From the Lord's Model Prayer to the forgiving heart of the Master when one of His children confesses sin...He always forgives and we are to have that same attitude. Forgiveness is a central theme to the Word of God...Right??

Chapter 19 begins with a touchy subject.  We rarely hear any preaching or teaching on "divorce."  Why?  It is because Christians, in much part, have joined the world in the practice of "...till debt (or whatever reason) do we part." It is because of the personal nature of divorce.  One can become very sensitive to the subject saying, "You just don't understand my situation."  I may not, but Jesus does.  Ask Him to guide you.

Have you been divorced and remarried?  I have a friend who left his wife of 20+ years for another woman.  He had the attitude that he was under grace and God had to forgive him.  Wrong Attitude!!!  Sometimes divorce happens...this is sad, but do all you can to avoid it.  And, remember we are under "grace" ... if you are divorced and remarried, you are a child of God, confess you failure...your sin.  He forgives! Don't get hung up in the past. Move on from where you are and do all you can to be pleasing to God.  In this you will find release, a refreshing breeze as the Holy Spirit directs you from within.  Then move on...!!

One more lesson on "Children" ... He invites those with child-like faith to come to Him.  It is to them that the "kingdom of heaven" belongs. (19:13-15)

Join us Sunday as we push forward into the realm of "faith."  What is required of you to enter the kingdom?  Don't be too quick to answer ... stop and "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Cor. 13:5)