Not destroyed, but fulfilled!

Today’s scripture:

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

There are times that I get filled with doubt. Even doubting for a mere second… Is there even a God? Then God reveals truth to me reminding me of His great love. And it’s times like this when I read this passage above and study through this part of the Sermon on the Mount, that I see His word couldn’t possibly be constructed by even the most intellectual minds. His word and His character and all creation fit together so well that it is perfect. So perfect, it’s impossible to explain.

Today we are looking into the second topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Law Eternal”. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus starts out telling the people that He has not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law! Fulfill as in completing it. This area of God’s heart, I believe runs so deep and is so profound, I don’t understand it completely, but yet at the same time is so simple. When we went through the Ten Commandments, we saw that they really are for our protection and is filled with God’s mercy.

Now, as Jesus says He came to fulfill the law, we will start to see what He means by that. He takes His commands a bit further as we will learn in the next few days. This will show us that obeying His will starts with an attitude of our heart. If I can quote another line from the movie “Facing The Giants” from Sherwood Baptist Church, The head coach says to the team…”Your attitude is like the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, that means your hearts not right.” That is so very true!

For now, lets focus on our attitude with what Jesus is talking about here in v.19, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

You know, one of the strongest most powerful ways we teach is how we live our life. Remember what we read yesterday about being salt and light? We teach by example. If we are teaching that the law is just a bunch of rules, that doesn’t really show the full truth of God’s heart. We need to show the love that is within the law to other people.

Now, v.20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” I love how Jesus brings it on home at the end. What He is saying here about your righteousness vs. the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees is LOVE! See, the scribes and Pharisees taught the law was just a bunch of rules, but Jesus came to teach with His words but mostly with His actions that Love is where its at! Love completes the law because without it, you still couldn’t get into heaven as it says at the end of v.20.

See how even though the law is meant for us to be protected and to give to others, Jesus completes it with perfect love. We will continue on with many of the other topics on the Sermon on the Mount showing just that…”LOVE & MERCY” and where our attitude fits with all that.

Reflection:

This fulfillment of God’s law to obedience starts with our attitude. What comes first the mind or the actions from within your heart? It’s your mind where your attitudes are formed which will lead your heart into the obedience of God’s will or away from God if we aren’t careful. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Challenge:

What is the aroma of your heart? Does your heart reflect your attitude? Thank the Lord we have a gift from God and that is our mind that is outside of our wicked heart. You have the power to change your mind to fit the attitude that your heart needs to follow which also needs to line up with scripture. Observe your attitude today. Make a decision right now to what your heart is going to be led by…your emotions or the renewing of your mind.

-Doug McGowan

The sweet taste of Jesus

Today’s scripture:

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord  is  good; Blessed  is  the man  who  trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. (Psalm 34:8, 9)

My friend Oscar Fuentes (another brother in Christ devoting his life to the Lord) often would tell me that we as followers need to have the sweet taste of the Lord Jesus. When someone you meet or encounter in any way, especially if it's confrontational, are they going to have a taste of bitterness or anger or anything not of God? Or, are they going to notice that extra flavor of life and love that can only come from the Lord Jesus?

As we go through these few topics that Jesus talks about on the Sermon on the Mount, we will see how Jesus shows His loving-kindness throughout this series.

Get out your bible and go to Matthew 5:13-16. In this passage Jesus says we are a huge influence in this world by being salt and light of the earth. v.13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

We, as christains and followers of Jesus are salt. We are full of the love tasting flavor of our Lord! But notice the warning. He says if you loose your flavor how can you be any good to someone. This is the same concept where in John 15:5 He says He is the vine and we are the branches and a part from Him we can do nothing.

How can we stay connected to Him and not loose our flavor? Well, the answer to that is obvious and simple. Spend time with your Lord Jesus! Spend time with Him every day in His word letting Him speak to you and thanking Him. Come to Him with humility and being volnrable and just open yourself up exposing all of yourself to Him. Be honest with Him and call out your needs as they truly are. Not needs of finances or material things, but your spiritual needs as you practice the first step of your life in Christ which is what we read about yesterday, being poor in spirit!

Now, Jesus goes on to say that we are the light. v.14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Like it or not, knowing it or not, the truth is people all around are watching the saints and observing your actions and attitudes. I remember before I came to Christ, I watched others who professed to have faith in Jesus. I watched because I needed hope. I wanted what they had. I wanted Jesus to do in me what I was seeing in them, peace, love, compassion, mercy and joy. We are a light to this world as a lighthouse is to the fog on a raging storm on the sea showing the way home of safety and peace.

These two ideas of being salt and light in this world are actually used as an influence to people. This world is filled with hurting people. People stuck in bondage of addictions, depression, hopelessness, death of loved ones, diseases, the demonic forces from drugs and other darkness. We need to be a good influence to these people in places filled with such things. But, before we can be that, we need to stay connected to the vine!

Reflection:

This message, like all the others I write, is mainly for me. I am preaching to myself. When we get caught up in the moment of passion of anger, fear, rage, depression, or anything else, it is very difficult to maintain God-likeness. But the fact of it is, we have been bought with a high price. We are not our own anymore. We gave that up when we came to Christ. We gave it up because we knew we needed Him. Don’t forget the price He paid for you. Live as if it cost Him everything because it did!

Challenge:

Are you salt and light to those people around you? Like it or not, people are going to be taking bites out of you through various ways of communicating with you or encountering you in some way. Facebook, conversations, email …etc. When they walk a way, are they going to have the sweet taste of Jesus left with them, giving them encouragement and hope? Be salt and a light to them. Search out someone in need of hope today and give them Jesus!

-Doug McGowan

Blessed are the saints (8 beatitudes)

Today’s scripture:

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29)

I would like to spend some time going through the Sermon on the Mount and also showing the mercy found in these passages of scripture just like we saw the mercy in each of the Ten Commandments. In this Sermon, Jesus expounds on the fundamental truths of the Kingdom of God. First, He starts His sermon with 8 steps reaching the higher altitudes of spiritual life leading into the fundamental truths of the Kingdom of God.

Starting with Matthew 5:3-12…

1. Humility: v.3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Humility is the first step for a reason (Psalm 149:4). It puts you in your rightful place and has a way of sobering you up so you can see things clearly without deception. As we start to see ourselves for who we really are in light of God, we get an acknowledgement of knowing we need Him! Being poor in spirit is a very good thing. When you are poor of something that creates a desire for something more.

2. Contrition: v.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” The word mourn mentioned here is a sorrow over sin. God just loves those who are broken over their sin (Psalm 34:18). He is close to the broken. When He comes close to the broken, they will be comforted.

3. Gentleness: v.5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.” Gentleness is meekness, which is the markings of a new spirit within. The Lord guards those who has a new spirit and that belong to Him. He protects those who are gentle in spirit (Zephaniah 2:3).

4. Spiritual Hunger: v.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” This attribute signifies spiritual growth. First comes the humility found in step one which creates in us the spiritual hunger. As we search for God and seek His face, we will not hunger or thirst. This hunger and thirst is meant as a mercy for us so we will be filled when we turn and seek Him (2 Chronicles 7:14).

5. Mercifulness: v.7 “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.” This is an attribute of God as well as an attribute of a follower of Jesus. It is the Heart of Christ! This verse is proof that what we sow, it is that which we will reap. In the mercy prayer found in the tab of this blog has within the prayer saying “Do for him/her, Lord, instead of me.” Meaning not to get caught up in our own needs and wants because we are promised by this verse we will be taken care of (1 Kings 3:6).

6. Purity: v.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” This is the marking of the attainment of higher attitudes, where comes the vision God. This purity is the kind of pure heart that is the kind king David had that He was in a constant search after God’s heart (Psalm 119:9-10). When we search for God’s heart, which is the purest, He will give it freely!

7. Peacemaking: v.9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” This is a Christ-like influence, calming the storms of life (Ephesians 2:14-18).

8. Sacrificial Suffering: v.10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Suffering for Christ, standing firm along with the prophets and martyrs. I’ve written before explaining how these trials and sufferings can be a mercy to us if we so choose to look at it the right way. Look at the verses 11 and 12. They say that if you are persecuted and peoples say all kinds of false things about you that your reward is great in the kingdom of heaven!

Can you see how Jesus is laying out in such order of what our life is like as we live be faith knowing Him to be our one and only Savior? From the very beginning with humility, there the whole christian life begins, but it is also a way of life and not just a time when you are born again. Without getting pride out of the way and seeing ourselves for who we really are in light of God, the rest of these steps wouldn’t even be thought of.

Reflection:

Each of these steps is a higher standard, as we get closer to the temple of truth. In today's scripture it says they were amazed at Jesus’ teachings and that it wasn’t like how the scribes taught. Maybe its because Jesus taught that all these attribute were filled with the loving-kindness (mercy) produced in you by the Lord rather than something that is full of legalism. God’s word says many many people followed Jesus after this teaching. That’s because while He taught with such authority He was able to show the love within the authority and that is what drew them to Jesus.

Challenge:

Are these attributes showing up in your life? If your not experiencing them, do not be discouraged. Sanctification takes time dear ones. As long as you have a genuine desire to have more of Jesus in your life, have faith that He will produce that within you. As you go through these next few days, be mindful and watch what God does in you. Pray before you start each of these reading that He opens your eyes, your ears and your heart.

-Doug McGowan

Running after His heart gets messy

Today’s scripture:

“…God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22b)

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31)

I want to be the first to say I do not have it all figured out. The more I learn about God and the more I learn about the way I REALLY am, I’m humbled to say I have got so much to learn! If I can be a little transparent and real with you, there are times that I feel like the devil himself. I struggle with so many things that are within my character. This is not a beat down on Doug session, but I just got some insight of what God is wanting to do inside of my heart and it is so humbling.

Just when we think we are doing good and got it all together, God knocks on the door of our heart and says “We need to have a talk”. Lets be honest, those are not very comforting words to hear from the one who knows everything there is to know about you. Seems as the closer I feel like I’m getting to God, the more I am so very different than Him.

I do know that God absolutely loves a broken heart. He will not ignore a broken heart. He can’t! …see Psalm 34:18 and 51:17. Since I came to the Lord back in 2006, I have always wanted more of Him. I am on a constant search of His heart. Even as I write this my heart aches for Him. I think we become broken and ache for His heart when we realize that it isn’t anything we can do to make us grow spiritually. In fact, left on our own, we will destroy everything we touch, even ourselves within time.

Even as I run after God’s heart I feel like I stumble all over the place running in a staggered and crooked line for my target. But, God is not concerned with how it looks. I mean, it doesn’t have to look perfect. He is more concerned about our pride and if we are willing to submit to His will for us. Praise God that He isn’t concerned with us being perfect or even close to looking good. Sometimes I feel like king David or Peter the fisherman, often stumbling in sin and inserting my foot into my mouth before I consider what comes out of it.

As I write this I’m reminded of the christain movie “Facing the Giants” by Sherwood Baptist Church. There is a scene in the movie where one of the football coaches is trying to teach the kicker (who has never played football) how to kick a field goal. The kicker kept trying to make it look good but he just couldn’t get it thru those posts. Then the coach says to the kicker who’s name was David in the movie, “It doesn’t have to look pretty. It doesn’t have to look smooth. It can look like a dying duck, but the ball has to go through the middle.”

That’s what I feel like most of the time, a dying duck flopping thru the air. But, as long as I am not giving up and keep fighting my flesh it doesn’t matter that it doesn’t look pretty. At the end of the movie, the kicker “David” is faced with his biggest challenge to win the game. He has to kick a 51 yard field goal and his mind quickly fills with doubt that he can’t do it, and left on his own he can’t, but the coach says to him give it all up. That is, give all of your own strength up to God and empty yourself out and give it your all trusting the results up to the one who has complete control. So he gets out there on the field (battle ground) and positions himself (facing his enemy) and runs all out and kicks it with all that he has (fights), and…. Well, you will have to see the movie to know what happens next.

But seriously that is what we are faced with in each of our walks with the Lord. The one thing I will say that helps me stay in the fight no matter how hard things get, and that is to stay vulnerable and honest, exposing all that I am to my spiritual mentor and spiritual authority. If you don’t keep bringing your struggles and falls into the light exposing them for what they are and not sugar-coating it, then you will be an easier target for satan and his angles and they will develop a strong hold on you and before you know it, you will be left out in the dark coldness separated from the Lord. But thank the Lord He has made a way for even then and that is brokenness that leads you back to Him (repentance).

Reflection:

When we stumble and fall and get so discouraged and it even feels like it’s all up hill is when we need to get right back up out of the mud and ask the Lord to clean us up, confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness and repent. Then, If we have truly done that we can boldly go on with the fight and stand firm in His promises to prosper us in all that we do because we have delighted in Him and He is faithful and true to give us our desires as they match up with His… see Psalm 37:4.

Challenge:

Today take time to really consider if you have truly confessed all that you need to so the Lord can bless your steps. He will not bless that which you still have grips on. He is a gentleman and will never pry our grips from things we want to keep hidden, but as you open your grip wide He can take it freely and you shall be clean.

-Doug McGowan