Matthew 5: Empowering Children and Teens Today!

Matthew 5 

     Chapter 5 begins what is known as the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus went up on a mountain, and after his disciples came to him he began teaching.  In Ch. 7 verse 27, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the people were amazed at His teaching.  They said He taught them as if they were important people, having authority. 

     The teachings include what are called the “Beatitudes”, which focused on love and humility.  The last verse of chapter 5 is the considered to be the focal point of the teachings:  "Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as you Father in heaven is perfect.” 

When reading this it is important to remember, the people were familiar with the law of the Old Covenant.  The New Covenant did not yet exist.  Jesus had not yet redeemed them from the curse of the law by paying the price for the people’s sin. 

     There seems to be much controversy over what verse 48 means.  If we look at this verse through New Covenant eyes, we know that we have been transformed in Christ… into a new creature in our spirit man.  And as we grow in Christ, we become more and more in the image of God. 

     At our new birth (Romans 10:9, 2 Cor. 5:17), we are made new, a perfect spirit man.  However, our soul and our body have not.  Transformation of the soul comes with the revelation of God’s Word as we renew our minds to who He is and who we are in Him.

     

Imagine an acorn (a seed), planted into the ground.  The seed contains everything that is needed to produce a perfect oak tree.  It is complete.  Once planted, it has the power to grow into all it was meant to be, a beautiful, stately oak tree. The transformation into a perfect oak tree from the seed takes place with proper watering, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil.

     

All we are in Christ is planted in us as a new spirit man when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  As we become more and more in the image of God, our minds are transformed (Romans 12:2) and we begin to live out who we are:   “just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

     Matthew 5 is packed with teachings from Jesus.  As you read today, notice; 
     Who are the blessed?  
     How are believers as salt and light? 
     How did Christ fulfill the law?  
     Does sin begin in the heart? 
     How can we go the extra mile?  
     What does it mean to love your enemies?

Matthew 4: Empowering Children and Teens Today!

Off to a temptation of a start!

     

     At the end of chapter 3, God says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (verse 27 NKJV) Right on the tails of this statement, chapter 4 begins with “Then, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (verse 1, NKJV) God declares Jesus as His Son and immediately Jesus is led to the wilderness, and in preparation for the test by the devil, Jesus fasts. 

   The devil tests Jesus by tempting his flesh.  Have you been hungry before?  Often, before certain blood tests doctors run for physicals and check-ups, doctors will tell us to fast (not eat or drink for a determined amount of time) so they may achieve accurate results on the tests.  Have you been told this before? Most often, these fasts can be scheduled while you are sleeping and the doctor’s appointment scheduled early the following morning. 

  There are a few medical tests, in which I have had to fast for 24 hours or more.  One time in a hospital, they ran so many tests, I had to fast for a week.  The first three days, I remember being very hungry.  My body craved food and water to drink.  If someone had come to me with a cheeseburger and fries, I would have gobbled it up quickly. 

    The devil tempted while in the wilderness, even tempted Jesus by trying to play on pride (“if you are the Son of God…..” (verse 3) and again, “if you are the Son of God…..” (verse 4).  This did not appeal to Jesus.  He knew what the devil was doing.  More importantly, Jesus knew who He was (the Son of God) and had chosen to be where He was, doing what He was doing.  How did He get rid of the devil? He spoke the Word, and told the devil to go!  Jesus ended the temptation, himself.  (read verse 10) Temptation takes many forms, but every temptation by the devil is based on deception and designed to distract you from keeping your eyes on God.  Sometimes temptation looks like the long line at the cash register trying your patience, like the driver on the road who cut you off in traffic, your schedule and the demands of the day tempting you to give up your daily time with God.  Whatever your temptation is?  Know that you are a child of God.  Tell the devil to go!  And, speak the Word into the situation. 

  What temptations are in your life today?  What scriptures can you grab hold of in the Bible to speak out to the situation?  Why do we have tests?  Is it to make us fail, or is it for us to see what we know?

John the Baptist Story Card (Matthew 3)

download and print freely this story card at  www.facebook.com/joyfulworksinternationalministries .

Building Relationships and Settling In

Home in Asia.

Yes, I know that sounds a bit odd from an American.

Recently  I made it back to Asia after a year back in the states for healing and restoration from the strokes and several complications that resulted.  The time was well spent with family and friends.  My own family increased with a new granddaughter and a new daughter-in-law.  I am thankful to be present for both occasions.  It was a real blessing.
     I am very happy to be back now.  I have missed her.  What can I say?  It's almost like she is in my blood.  I can say, she is in my heart.  First was XXXXX and the start of a small bible school in 2008.  Second, was XXXXXXXto assist with the beginnings of a church in 2010.  And, now, XXXXXXX (at least as a home base for a while) with the continuation of a vision and plan God has led, "Empowering Children and Teens Today!".
 








      I am still getting settled and looking for an apartment.  However, work, connections, and the building of relationships have already begun.  It doesn't take long here, because the need is so great.     Just this past week, I met a small group of women who recently started a small children's bible class for ages 5-9, to teach their own children God's Word.  The women said they are lacking both direction and materials.  They, and others I have spoke to this past few weeks, have told me how great a need there is for what God has given me a heart to do.
     There is still a long way to go. The materials themselves take time to create.  Not to mention the time in teaching key people how to start and maintain children and youth ministries within their own local churches, and multiply themselves by teaching others to do the same.
     I ask that you please keep this ministry and the people it touches lifted up in prayer.

 “There is nothing that our God cannot do. He will do everything if you will dare to believe.” 
― Smith Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith

You can also follow Joy on Instagram @joyneasley or on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/JoyfulWorks 

Psalm 1

Matthew 3: Empowering Children And Teens Today!

     Matthew introduces us to bearing fruit worthy of repentance in Chapter 3.  John the Baptist is in the wilderness preaching a message of repentance, preparing the way for Jesus.  People came to him as he preached and baptized with water, telling of the One to come. 

   

  He spoke about bearing fruit worthy of repentance and compared those with bad fruit to a tree to be cut down at the roots.  What was he talking about?  He was speaking about our heart condition and the signs in our lives of repentance (the fruit).  Repentance is simply aligning ourselves with the Word of God.  When we do this, our lives will reflect the inner change (the fruit) that comes with aligning ourselves with the Word of God.

     So what does bearing fruit worthy of repentance mean?  I met a woman who shared this with me many years ago:  we will call her Carol here.

     Very early in her marriage, Carol became frustrated with a lack of money for her to run the home and the family.  Her husband worked, and she took in odd jobs to try to help ends meet each month, but it was not enough.  One day, a friend shared the Gospel Message with her, and Carol soon became a new Christian.   

     Several months later this Carol’s friend, Amy, came by her old, run down house to visit.   Amy noticed the entrance to the home was dark with dirt and handprints from the playful children as Carol answered the door and invited her Amy inside.  Noticing the inside was as dirty and disorganized as the entrance, her Amy sat at the kitchen table while the Carol ran a wet rag across it to clear a place for them to talk. 

     They discussed about the Carol’s situation, and Amy recommended she start reading the bible, but only what she could manage each day and still take care of her children and husband.  They agreed to talk again the next time Amy was in the neighborhood. 

     Carol enjoyed the fellowship, but did not see how reading might change her situation.  She did want to continue to meeting with Amy the next time she was nearby, so she did read a few verses from the book of John every day, as Amy had recommended.

     Amy came Carol to visit a few months later.  Walking up to the house, Amy noticed the dirt and handprints missing at the entrance.  She knocked, and again was invited into the home.  Sitting down at the kitchen table, she noticed a beautiful little jar with wildflowers picked from the nearby field sat in the center.  Dishes were clean and put away.  The home’s aroma was clean, and it’s appearance orderly.

As they fellowship at the kitchen table, Carol shared how as she read from the Book of John, her perspective of her life changed, and she saw hope in the love of Christ that filled her from the pages of the Bible.  The changes on the inside of her, within her spirit, soon reflected outwardly in her home and family.  These outward changes are like the fruit worthy of repentance. 

Changes on the outside reflecting the inside are what John the Baptist was referring to when he warned the Sadducees and the Pharisees who attended his baptism to bear fruits worthy of repentance.  He was referring to evidence of their heart condition, rather than just acts and works to make it look like they were in repentance. 

We will be like a tree with roots by a stream (a healthy tree); and we will not fear, but continue to have green leaves and bear fruit, even when circumstances around us are troublesome (Jeremiah 17:7,8).  John the Baptist also compares us to a tree. 

     By getting our heart condition aligned with God’s Word, the changes on the inside reflect on the outside as “fruits worthy unto repentance.”  You are off to a great start by daily reading the Bible (Psalm 1).  The bible is the living, inspired Word of God, capable of more than you can ever image.