Welcome to my BLOG and Post #1
I am creating this blog to share my thoughts with the public. It's another form of journaling for me and it is an educational tool for others who are also early in their faith. There will be no true structure to this page (at least for now), it is genuinely my thoughts and what the Lord puts on my heart as it is centered around me being Christ Taught.
This blog has started from my YouTube Video over how the Lord is changing me in my recent days. and will consist of the notes I make from time to time on the chapters I read. This specific post is a composite of what I noted from days 1-3 (but the video is over days 1-5).
Video:
The Book of Matthew
Chapter 2
As a Man of God, you are to lead your family. It becomes crucial that you listen to and for the Lord!
Joseph was the one who was getting the guidance and directions to lead his family.
The angels would come to him. Each time to leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt, and also to leave Egypt when it was safe to do so.
'When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”’ – Matthew 2:13-15
'After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ' – Matthew 2:19-21
While listening to and responding, he was also warned and had heard who was ruling in place and was able to be led by the spirit to a safer location. Fulfilling another prophecy in the midst of it!
'But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.' – Matthew 2:22-23
Chapter 3
I saw a video today or yesterday speaking on the following verse:
'And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”' – Matthew 3:17
He emphasized something that stood out to me very much. That the LORD himself spoke out about Jesus and how well and pleased he was and is with him. But to acknowledge and remind us that since Jesus died in place of us, and bridged that gap between us and the Father, he now says that about us.
I found it comforting because it reminded me that my Father in heaven truly loves me and his love is unconditional. I couldn’t earn it if I worked my entire life for it, and I can never lose it.
Chapter 4
The devil himself tempted Jesus Christ in the very same way he will tempt us. Jesus is human, and he understands what I go through. The selfish desires I have. And it becomes critical that I stand just as strong and as tall as Christ did and evade all tactics the devil places before me. For I am to mirror and mimic him. To be ‘little Christ.”
Here are the ways Jesus was tempted.
'And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”' – Matthew 3:17
'“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” ' – Matthew 4:6-7
'“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” ' – Matthew 4:9-10
Jesus RESISTED the devil as we are commanded and told to do (“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7).
'Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. ' – Matthew 4:11
We, too, have the authority over the devil, and when commanded to flee, while in submission to the LORD, the devil has no options but to obey. Because the Father we worship has given us authority and dominion over all things on earth, here below.
I also want to note that… JESUS, in that time, began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Chapter 5
In this chapter, I am reminded that great are those who rejoice in the Lord and are humble. Being forgiving of others because I am forgiven by the Father. Patient with others, because the Father is patient with me. Live and treat those not how I would want to be treated, but how the Father has treated me.
'But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. ' – Matthew 5:22
' “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,' – Matthew 5:38-44
Verses 17-20: The law is still present to show us what our standard is and that it has been fulfilled. The law is not what saves us, and we are not bound to the law. The law is present, and Jesus came down to show us that WE CANNOT DO IT without GOD! We are called to live a life like Christ. Who fulfilled the law? And because we, in our nature and will, are incapable, we are to rely on the Lord to move within us and on our behalf to walk out this truth.
Adultery is an issue of the heart and not the eyes. Do not lust after women, and do not remarry divorced women. For they do not belong to you.
[28] 'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [32] But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. ' – Matthew 5:28,32
Do not believe the words people tell you when they say we don't have to be perfect. WE ARE TOLD TO BE PERFECT BY CHRIST HIMSELF. In this command, we need to be reminded about HOW we are to be perfect. The Lord has fulfilled the law. The law we could not fulfill because we are imperfect. When Christ passed, he left with us the Spirit to guide us and teach us. We are called to mimic him and be like him. The Spirit within us allows us to walk out a perfect walk, should we believe. We cannot be perfect without God. THEREFORE being why, we NEED the Lord in our lives and our hearts. Seek the Lord to captivate and infiltrate our hearts so that we may walk as perfectly as possible within him.
'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' – Matthew 5:48
Chapter 6
What the Lord does within us is not meant to be hidden but to be shown for his glory. What we do from within us is not meant to be shown, but meant to be hidden, for it is a worship to the Lord.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ' – Matthew 6:1
' “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ' – Matthew 6:5
' “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ' – Matthew 6:5
What you look at the heart feeds directly. What the heart is filled with becomes the source of the fruits you produce. If you are not careful, you are doomed to be cut off for producing bad fruit, simply due to the lack of care for the fact that our eyes are a gateway to the heart. Consumption of the eyes becomes the consumption of the heart.
' “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!' – Matthew 6:22-23
Chase after the Lord, and everything else will play out for you!
' “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!' – Matthew 6:22-23
Chapter 7
Truly, let God be the foundation of all we do. Let him be the soil we are planted in and the rock we build on.
'By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ' – Matthew 7:16
' “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ' – Matthew 7:24,26
Chapter 8
Sometimes I find myself doubting, not God's ability, but his willingness to change my circumstances. I know the Lord is willing to be of help, and I need to change my selfish desires. But I have to have the trust of the man of leprosy, and the women who touched the garment, and trust that the power is closer and more within. I am saved and changed simply because I believe. I believe that I am not a victim of my temptations, and the enemy has no stronghold against me anymore!
'Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. ' – Matthew 8:13
'He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” ' – Matthew 8:26-27
A fault of mine and many other humans is that we become too invested in the materialistic things of our lives. Sometimes this can cost us a great loss. A loss of sight of who the Lord truly is and the work he is doing in our lives. Just as the individuals of this village miss the miracle done by the son of God, all because it came at the cost of their own goods.
'When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town, and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.' – Matthew 8:28-34
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