“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15-16 NIV
Tag: Matthew
Matthew 7:13-14
[ The Narrow and Wide Gates ] “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14 NIV
Walk The Walk… Not Only Talk The Talk
Surrender is normally seen as defeat… but for a Christian surrender of our lives to the Lord is victory.
Surrender is the price we pay to follow Jesus.
But salvation is a free gift right?
The grace of God is made freely available to us through Christ but it had a great price – the price of His life.
We freely receive the forgiveness of God when we receive His gift of salvation and turn in repentance from our life of sin. The proof of this is to desire to take hold of the life that he offers.
Now that’s where there is a price to pay for us… to walk the walk… not only talk the talk.
It’s not works at all. Surrender is the opposite of works. It requires deep faith and reliance on God’s grace and sets the foundation for actually living Christian life… living as compared to hearing and reading about it.
This is the place the Lord wants us to be. It’s the place where we will be confronted the most but a place where where we will learn to be most satisfied. It’s the place we really get to know the Lord.
It’s costs everything but we loose nothing of real value.
Matthew 13:46
who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Philippians 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
- Mark Saunders
A Christian Walk Will Certainly Bring It’s Sufferings. But Take Heart, He’s Already Reached The End – For The Joy Set Before You – Continue – Don’t Stop!
Every journey has a beginning and an end.
Christian life is similar. It begins when we’re born again. The destination will be eternity with the Lord… but while we’re alive on earth our time is spent “on the road”.
Jesus described the road as narrow. The word “narrow” translates as “afflict, suffer tribulation or trouble” What does He mean?
He’s talking about a spiritual suffering that the Holy Spirit will lead me in if I’m willing. This suffering comes as I’m ready to let my flesh (carnal nature) be dealt with.
Here’s the thing – we’re perfectly righteous in Christ but far from perfect in reality. True or not? We still carry our “flesh” with us.
An example… holding grudges. Do you hold any? That’s of the flesh, not the spirit.
The Lord might allow a circumstance in which I’m offended to teach me to forgive… I would have been afflicted, have suffered and maybe undergone tribulation in the process.
A servant is not greater than his master. A Christian walk will certainly bring it’s sufferings as we walk on the narrow road. But take heart, He’s already reached the end – for the joy set before you – continue – don’t stop! This is often how He shapes and forms us into his image.
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)
Philippians 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
1 Peter 4:13
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
- Mark Saunders
The Word Of God Is Living And Active. It Divides Soul And Spirit And Discerns The Thoughts And Intents Of Our Hearts.
Times change. But the word of God doesn’t.
It doesn’t need to updated to a better version. It doesn’t need patches.
God’s word doesn’t change because God doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to update himself.
His word is not just “writings and sayings” but it’s an expression of His heart.
The word of God is living and active. It divides soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
The word of God is expressed in its fullest by the person of Jesus Christ. He is the word of God. Unless I know Jesus, God’s word doesn’t make sense. It’s boring and old fashioned to be frank.
But when I’m “born again” his word comes alive… rich, deep, clear and simple. I need to know Christ to know the word of God.
I don’t know how it happens but being born again is real. It means “born from above.” The gospel of John describes it as being born “of water and the spirit” meaning birthed through repentance and the Holy Spirit.
If we sincerely ask Him, He’s willing to give that gift.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 3:11 – I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- Mark Saunders