May
27
Matthew 7:13–14
13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Focused Thinking: WOW! Read verses 13 and 14 again, they are 110% in opposition with the thinking of the world. What does the world say? The world says the way that leads to life is broad and the way that leads to destruction is narrow. The world says all roads lead to heaven. The world says all religions are the same God with a different name. What do you hear on the news when people die? The general opinion is that everybody goes to heaven. What do you hear at funerals? Again the general opinion is that everybody goes to heaven. What is the truth? 13a—“Enter through the narrow gate;” 13b—“For the gate is WIDE and the way is BROAD that leads to DESTRUCTION,” 13c—“And...
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26
Matthew 7:12 part 2
12“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Focused Thinking: WOW! How simple? How powerful? “In everything…” How important are those two words? This is a “no excuse” policy. This is the original “pay it forward.” “treat people the SAME WAY you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” How many problems would that solve? How many MARRIAGE problems would that solve? How many PARENTING problems would that solve? How many FAMILY problems would that solve? How many FRIEND problems would that solve? How many WORK problems would that solve? How many POLITICAL problems would that solve? Who else has one-statement truths that could solve all the problems of the world? The Golden Rule—“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” A New Commandment—“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another,...
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25
Matthew 7:12
12“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Focused Thinking: Moving straight to prayer today. Personal Application: Interactive Prayer: Father, this is such a foundational verse. It is so simple, but yet so strong. Forgive us for knowing it intellectually but rarely knowing it relationally. Father, give me the grace to obey this one verse all the time. Give me the ability to die to self and to live for You and for others. Give me the ability to look at this verse as a privilege instead of an obligation. Father, give me the ability to see and experience the power of this verse personally and corporately. Father, forgive us for being so familiar with your main truths that we neglect to truly obey them. Father, give us the focus to go back to the basics of “love one another” and “treat others as you want to be treated.” Father, our inability to live...
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24
Matthew 7:7–11
7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Focused Thinking: What is the full context and understanding of this teaching on prayer? “Ask, and it will be given to you;” What does “asking” look like? Ask for whatever you want? Parents don’t give children whatever they want. Parents don’t always give children what they need when they need it. Parents say “yes” when that is best for us. Parents say “no” when that is best for us. Parents...
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23
Matthew 7:6
6“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Focused Thinking: This appears to be an abrupt change of direction, but Jesus isn’t changing direction, He is simply illustrating His point. Don’t entrust holy things to unholy people. The dogs He refers to were scavenger dogs. The pigs were considered unclean animals. What is he saying? The “dogs” and “pigs” are unholy or unclean people treat the gospel with scorn or contempt. Do not give “what is holy/sacred” (consecrated food for the priests and their families) to scavenger dogs. In the same way it would be crazy to gives pearls to pigs. In Matt 13:45–46, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a pearl of great value. Jesus is explaining the futility of teaching the gospel to people who do not want to listen, such people will only tear apart what we say. Pigs...
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22
Matthew 7:3–5
3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Focused Thinking: Why is it so easy to be critical? It is so easy to see the speck in others. It is so easy to see the problem in others. It is so easy to see the weakness in others. Why are we so reluctant to look at ourselves? We see the SPECK in others but don’t see the LOG in us. As much as we hate to admit it, in an incredibly ugly way it makes us feel better about ourselves to see other people’s faults. Somehow our faults are understandable but their faults aren’t understandable. Somehow our faults are reasonable but their faults aren’t reasonable. Somehow...
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21
Matthew 7:3–5 prayer
3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Focused Thinking: I will break down the scripture tomorrow; I am focusing on prayer today. Personal Application: Interactive Prayer: Father, give us the ability to look at our own hearts instead of others. Give us the integrity to look in the mirror daily. Give us the ability to be spiritually honest. Give me the ability to grow more spiritually the second half of this year than I’ve ever grown before. Give me the desire, determination and discipline to grow spiritually, intellectually and physically. Give me the ability to break life-long patterns. Give me the...
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20
Matthew 7:1–2
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Focused Thinking: What is one of the greatest weaknesses of Christians individually and corporately as the church? We judge people. Who likes to be judged? No one likes to be judged. Who feels loved when they are judged? No one feels loved when they are judged. Who is qualified to judge? No one except God is qualified to judge. What is the source of our judgment most of the time? Pride Most of the time judgment comes from a spirit of comparison. Most of the time judgment comes from a spirit of competition. Most of the time judgment comes from a spirit of criticism. How does the judged person typically respond? They judge you in return. If you point out their flaws then they point out your flaws. Why should you judge? “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” You...
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19
Matthew 6:25–34
25“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will...
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18
Matthew 6:25–34
25“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will...
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