Matthew 5-7

In Matthew 5-7:29 we see the beatitudes. This is the sermon on the mount in which Jesus gives God's perspective on what reality is in spiritual life (who is going to be blessed, what effect we can have as salt and light, fulfillment of the law and ethical teachings from God's perspective. Many times our views on a spiritual walk differ from our Lords. Our views on murder, adultery, divorce, relationships, justice and love differ from God's heart in these matters. We have the decision to bring God's standards down to ours, or bring our thinking and behavior in line with His. Loving our enemies for example is not something we would think of in our walk apart from God. Our challenge is to bring our life in line with His.

In chapter 6 our motives in giving to the needy are addressed. They should be intended to be seen by God - not man. Prayer and fasting are the same way. As God works on us we begin to see the value in storing up treasures in heaven and not earth. Then He addresses putting our trust in Him and not worrying. "Our father knows our needs and will meet them. He has good gifts in store for us that will shape us into the person that He knows is really behind the image we try to display.

More later...

Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6

In Matthew 12 we see the Lord healing and doing the work of the Lord on the Sabbath. This was against their customs and they used some points of the law to try to stop Him. Jesus knew that the entire law was given to show honor to God and He understood what the Sabbath was really all about - bringing people to honor God and to do the will of the father (to do good). He is the Lord of the Sabbath and everything. He worked as much as He could behind the scenes, but more and more people were drawn unto Him.

In Mark 3 we see the jealousy of the religious leaders while Jesus was working among them. They did not understand or accept His Lordship and sought to make Him look crazy and demonic. We see Him healing many and appointing apostles to be with Him that He might send them out to preach and have authority to drive out demons. The religious leaders increased the pressure to the point of getting Jesus' family concerned. Jesus understood that His brothers and sisters were spiritual (vs 31) and that was eternal.

In Luke 6 He instructs us not to judge but to recognize a tree by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, and to be those who are deep rooted - the same as having a firm foundation. The result is that we hear His words and put them into practice (be disciples).

John 2-4

John 2 shows us the beginning of Jesus power before his ministry began. He grants His mother's request turning water into wine foe the wedding banquet. "He revealed His glory and His disciples put their faith in Him." Seeing the lord at work among us has that effect on us. We cannot deny it. He then showed His love for the father by clearing the temple. He told them something that they would remember later "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The things we here the Lord tell us may be for later use. Jesus did put His trust in men as He knew what was in a man.

In chapter 3 we see Jesus explaining to Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus was a member and leader in the church. Vs6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.(NIV) Whoever comes into the light shows that our accomplishments are through God.

John knew he came to prepare the way for Christ. He was delighted to assume that role. He knew He must become less and Christ greater.

We then see Jesus going through Samaria speaking to the woman at the well. He told her everything abut herself and told her that - "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (NIV) Jesus understood the fields were ripe to harvest and went through Samaria to accomplish that end. we see the official pleading for His son's life and believing Him when Jesus said "Go your son will live." What measures has Jesus gone to reach us, and do we believe Him when He tells us to just trust Him?

Matthew 3 - Mark 1 - Luke 3

Here in all three accounts we John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord. He spoke boldly and called for repentance. He understood his role and did not feel worthy to baptize our Lord. God wants us to be ready to encounter Him and sends those to prepare us. We see how God was pleased at the obedience of His son and proclaimed that audibly from heaven and sent His spirit in the form of a dove. Jesus was ready for the assignment and God gave that assignment to the only one able to carry it out. The people were counting on the fact that they were Abraham's children to save them but John told them that every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down. We are to have a life of contentment and servant hood that is evident in all our actions. God has a plan to minister through you to His children that are calling out to Him. Are you ready for the assignment?

John's ministry was to bring God's people to repentance to get things out of their lives that would keep them from their Lord. What things in our life would keep us from knowing, following and bringing others to Christ? Are we counting on being a church member, maybe our church attendance as a child, or a Godly heritage? John was talking to the church and called them a brood of vipers. That was their spiritual condition. God sees our hearts and knows if His Son truly lives in us. In Him is life and that life is the light of men and women (John 1). Experience that abundant life by asking the Lord to come in and dwell with you.

Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52

In Matthew the wise men came to Jerusalem from the east asking about the one born King of the Jews. Here we get to see Satan working in king Herod. He tries to trick them in to finding Christ so he can kill Him. We talk about discernment and understand that it is key to a successful spiritual life, but it is revealed to wise men in a dream. God has used dreams several times in the birth of Christ. The dream or vision paints a vivid picture of what God wants. It will always line up with His word and we get confirmation this way and through prayer. They were wise enough to understand this and went home another way. Herod responded in anger and killed all of the boys under the age of two. This did not surprise God as it was prophesied that it would happen (Jer. 31:15). In a dream the angel told Mary and Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt which was also prophesied (Hosea 11:1) and in another dream called them home two years later. God placed them in the district of Galilee in the town of Nazareth and fulfilled the prophecy He shall be called a Nazarene.

In Luke 2:39 we get to see the story of Jesus at the age of 12 being about His Father's business. His parents looked for him for three days. I would have been upset too. They did not understand his answer. Sometimes we have to look for the answer. Then He went to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. 51b "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (NIV)

Matthew 1 & Luke 2:1-38

Matthew was a tax collector before He knew the Lord. Now He is charged with writing an account of the life of our Lord. He starts out with the genealogy of Jesus and shows the order of our Lord 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 form him to the exile, and 14 from the exile to Christ.

We then see the birth of Jesus and described the Holy Spirits role in His birth. The Angel stopped him from separating from Mary and confirmed the truth of Her testimony. All of this was revealed in a dream. That makes dreams even more significant than we may have thought.

In Luke 2 we see the details of Jesus birth from Doctor Luke. God adds those from all walks of life to the body of Christ to complete us. We see our Lord was placed in a feed trough to show He came into humbly this world. A heavenly host of angels praised His name and confirmed His Lordship. They went to Christ and spread the good news of Christ.

Then we see the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that He would see the Lord before he died and Anna understood Her role as a widow and consecrated her life to God through fating and praying daily. The Lord God arranged for them to be there and spread the good news to the worship leaders there. When tragedy strikes, consecrate your life to our Lord and see what great and mighty things He will do.

Luke 1 & John 1:1-14

We see Luke feeling led to draw an accurate account of all He knew to be true so that we may be certain of what we have been taught. He starts with Zechariah the priest and gives the account of the Angel Gabriel revealing God's plan to him. He was told that his son would be born with the spirit and power of Elisha. His doubting God's plan caused him to be silent until his son John the Baptist was born.

The angel Gabriel also visited Mary and told Her all things that would take place in her life. Jesus the son of God would be born to her while she was still a virgin and that and Elizabeth was going to have a child. Mary asked how can this be, that was to get the details of how this was to take place she wanted him to know she was a virgin and had no intention of that changing. The answer was nothing is impossible with God.

We see great joy of the mothers and the birth of John. Zechariah could speak again after confirming that his name was John. His father understood what God had done and rejoiced. We see individuals blessed because of their dedication and hearts for the Lord. How will we let Him use us?


In John 1 we see a different account. Not an historical view, but a spiritual account of God's work among us. He fills in the gaps for us. and shows us the aspects of God from the one who knew Jesus best. He was the disciple Jesus Loved.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us...we have seen His glory the glory of the only one who came from the father. More later.