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A Look At The
Authority Of Jesus
– Matthew Seven –
Matthew chapter seven is the final part of scripture in that
section known as the Sermon on the Mount. This section shows the authority of
Jesus as He spoke on such themes as judging, praying, the one way to heaven,
being known by your fruit, obedience and building on the rock. In His teaching,
"Jesus taught them as one having authority." (Matthew 7:29)
When
Jesus spoke of judgment He said that we should not judge harshly or rashly.
Many are able to see small faults in their brethren, but overlook greater ones
in themselves. Jesus called the faults motes and beams. Before we look for
faults in others we must first reform and correct ourselves.
Jesus taught us to pray sincere and ardent prayers. We must pray
often and fervently. Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)
The throne of God's grace is open to the faithful child of God. Earthly parents
know how to bless and answer the requests of their children. How much more is
God able and willing to bless His faithful sons and daughters?
There are only two ways to go as we travel through this life. One
is the right way and the other is the wrong way. The narrow way leads to heaven and the broad way
leads to hell. “Many” travel that broad way that leads to destruction. A
"few" will not travel the broad way to hell,
rather they choose to walk the straight and narrow! Walking the straight and
narrow way a person must resist temptation, and do their daily duty for God.
Nothing keeps man from the straight and narrow way more that
"false teaching." We must hear and learn the teachings of Jesus,
believe in His as the Christ, repent of sins, confess the precious name of
Jesus, be baptized into Christ, and live a holy life. Jesus, by His authority,
commanded every one that names the name of Christ to depart from iniquity. What
kind of builder are you? Let us build our lives on the solid foundation of
Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When a life is built
upon the rock nothing separates us from the love of Christ. Jesus "taught
them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:29)
Jesus
spoke with authority about judging – Matthew 7:1-6: A spirit of pride
and conceit causes people to judge others harshly. The judgment shown to be
wrong in this text is the opposite of the mercy which is shown to be right by
God. It is not ours to judge the hearts or the intentions of another! The same
God that forgives us according to our forgiveness of others judges us according
to our judgment of others. Sins must be dealt with, but let us not deal with
the sins of others while being hypocritical about our own sins!
Not all judging is condemned. The Bible says, "Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24) In
all of our dealings there must be "righteous judgments!"
We must judge our own deeds and the deeds of others, but we must not judge the
hearts of others. We cannot judge a person's intentions. God judges the heart
and we must not try to put ourselves on His throne. It would be impossible for
us to judge another's eternal state! However, must continually judge by the
word of God as to what is right and what is wrong.
Jesus
spoke with authority about praying – Matthew 7:7-12: Prayer is pictured
in different ways in the Bible. In Matthew six prayer
is pictured as our duty toward God. In Matthew seven prayer
is picture as a means whereby our needs are obtained. The lesson taught is
simple -- pray, pray, pray! In the words of our text -- keep asking, seeking
and knocking. Jesus knocks at our door. (Revelation 3:20) He allows us to knock
at His door so that the needs of our life may be met. God is both able and
willing to answer the prayers of His children. He is more loving than any
earthly father.
All that you expect or desire of other people do or say the same
to them. Try to think like God and to put yourself in the place of other
people. Your attitude to toward others will determine whether God can answer
your prayers. Jesus said, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this
is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
Jesus
spoke with authority about bearing fruit – Matthew
7:13-20: There are two ways and two gates. Only one way has eternal appeal.
Walking the straight and narrow way requires a new heart and a new life. (II
Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4) Though the way is straight and narrow it is our
goal because "it leads to life." The straight and narrow way is
entered as people believe without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ (John 6:69),
repent (Luke 13:3) and are baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) Conversion
or regeneration is the gate into this straight and narrow way.
Jesus often cautioned
against false prophets -- false teachers. There are false teachers, teaching
false doctrine leading to false conversions. How tragic! False prophets come as
"wolves in sheep's clothing." Christians must try the spirits whether
they are of God. (I John 4:1) Examine both the teaching and the fruit it
produces! Make sure that those that teach do so according to God's truth.
Jesus
spoke with authority about obedience – Matthew 7:21-29:
As Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount He showed the absolute necessity
of obedience. An outward profession without "heart" obedience
will not lead to heaven. Jesus spoke of the one "...who does the will of
My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) At judgment, the cries of those that
have been religious, but have not truly obeyed God, will be pitiful. They will
hear the Lord say "Depart from me." This will be a terrible
separation from the very Jesus that they claimed to serve. This separation will
be caused by a lack of obedience to Christ!
The hope of the Christian rests in the
foundation upon which he builds. "For no other foundation can anyone lay
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11.)
Only those that hear and obey Jesus are truly building on the Rock of Ages.
These are the people that are like a wise man. True wisdom consists in being
sure about the salvation of our soul. Salvation comes only when we have built
upon the firm teaching of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished as we keep
Christ's gospel teaching. When you confirm to the words of Christ you are
building upon a solid rock.
Those that heard Jesus speak were astonished that He spoke with
such authority. Yet, only few chose to walk the straight and narrow way. Have
you chosen to follow Christ and His teaching? God wants all men to become
Christians. To be saved you must hear the gospel (Romans
- - -
- Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Michelle Bagents, Linda
Bender, V.P. Black, Dawn Bradley, Emily Cain, Meryln Carter, Matthew Conway,
Juanita Cubley, Meredith Godwin, Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Montine Hardin,
Jean Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Frank Johnson, Darrell Jones, Mary Lawrence,
Romona Newton, Steve Osborne, Mary Powell, Philip Sampley, Roger Strange,
Winston Temple, Corrine Till, Barbara Walker, Leroy Waller and Judson Webb. Crowne
Health Care: Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright.
2.
Please Pray For: The following people are serving in
3. Sympathy
Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to: (a) the family of Wilmer Howell, especially to Lisa,
4. 2007
Church Budget: Our Elders have challenged us with a weekly budget of
$6,427.38 for 2007. If we all give as God has blessed us that will be no
problem. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (II Cor. 9:6)
5. Birthdays:
Celebrating birthdays this week are: January 21st Helen Autrey
and Kelli Smith, and January 25th Jeff Owens, January
26th Sue Bagents, and January 27th Blake
Bagents.
6. Wedding
Invitation: Elizabeth Marie Croley and Jeremy David Day together with
their families invite you to share in the joy at the celebration of their marriage
on Saturday, the twenty-seventh of January two thousand and seven at two
o’clock in the afternoon Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street,
Greenville, Alabama.
7.
8. Ladies
Bible Class: The Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Class meets at
9. Sign-Up
List: The 2007 sign-up lists for greeters, secure building, and van
drivers are on the bulletin board. Please sign up to help.
10. Visitation
Program: Our visitation program meets on Tuesday nights at
11. Thank
You: (a) It’s
easy to say “thank you” – what’s difficult to do is express the many special thoughts behind our thanks to
you. Thanks to all of you, for the lunch, food, flowers, prayers, and visits. Jewel
Cauthen & family and Homer Cauthen & family (b) To All, It was
a great source of strength to know how much you care for John Mark and Stacy.
Your efforts will be remembered for many years by all of us. In Christian Love,
Mel
Sellers (c) During a time like this we realize how much our friends
mean to us. Your kind expression of sympathy will always be appreciated. Thanks
so much for everything you all did for us. In Christian love, Homer,
Hilda, Jewel & Janell
11. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) January 26th – Elba Church of Christ – Singing – 7:00-8:30 p.m. (b) January 27-28 – Cedar Grove Church of Christ – Lessons on “The Home” – Speaker Donnie Hilliard – Time Saturday 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and Sunday 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (c) March 5th-8th, 2007 – Faulkner University – Annual Bible Lectures – Theme: Our God, He is Alive (d) April 27th-28th – Marriage Seminar – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speakers Glenn & Cindy Colley (e) September 24th-26th, 2007 – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites, Montgomery.
Who Am I?
In what I think was one of the funniest commercials of all time, a quarterback drops back to throw a pass and got hammered to the ground. A coach ran over to him and begins asking, “Where are you?” The player replied, “I’m in New York.” The coach asked, “Who am I?” “You’re Coach,” he said. Then the coach asked, “Who are you?” And with superhero, slanted eyebrows, the QB stated boldly, “I’m Batman!” He knew some things, but had no idea who he really was. This is the case with many people in the world. While most people don’t believe they are the Caped Crusader, they are at a loss when they try to answer the age-old question, “Who am I?” God wishes all people knew some of the following things about who they really are.
Who are you? You are God’s creation. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Gen 1:26). You did not come into existence when two molecules appeared out of nothingness and collided. You did not evolve from a single-celled organism over millions of years to become the complex being you are today. A loving, all-powerful God deliberately made you!
Who are you? If you are old enough to reason, and have the mental capabilities to comprehend right from wrong, you are a sinner. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom 3:23). “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (I John 1:8). We are ALL sinners! And the Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). This is a demoralizing fact, but there is marvelous hope.
Who are you? You are someone whom God wishes to save! “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (II Peter 3:9). We can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). You are important to God; so important, in fact, that He gave His only Son for you so that you might be with Him in heaven one day.
- - - - Darrell Powell
Tell the people that you love that you love them at every opportunity.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)