Saturday 021525
Together, you and I, let’s open the Word and study what we’ve ALL been freely given. Use me to help you open up your Bible and search what God wants for us to hear. We’re only going to follow what we find written in the Word that pertains to us and hopefully from what we find, we will be able to use it in our lives, not only for ourselves but hopefully for those that we love also.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Romans 14:1-22; Matthew 7:1-5, 7:6.
There will be times when you open your Bible to read ‘A’ verse, when you will find an entire chapter where it will seem like God wrote those words just for you or for the situation you might be in.
Accept all Christians
Romans 14
vs1 ‘…It is difficult for some Christians to trust God completely about everything. You should accept people like that as your friends. Do not argue with them about what they think is right or wrong…’
vs2 ‘…Some people believe that they may eat all kinds of food. But other people are not so sure, so they eat only vegetables…’
vs3 ‘…People who eat anything must not think that they are better than people who eat only vegetables. Also, people who eat only vegetables must not judge other people who eat anything. They are not doing anything wrong, because God himself has accepted them…’
vs4 ‘…God is the master of all believers, and they are his servants. You do not have authority to judge someone else’s servant. The servant’s own master will decide if he has done well, or he has done something wrong. And he will serve his master well, because the Lord is able to help him to do that…’
vs5 ‘…Some people think that certain days are special and more important than other days. Other people think that all days are the same. Each person should decide what seems right to him…’
vs6 ‘…A person who makes a certain day special does that so that he can respect the Lord. A person who eats all kinds of food does that so that he can respect the Lord. He thanks God for the food that he eats. A person who refuses to eat certain foods also does that so that he can respect the Lord. And he also thanks God…’
vs7 ‘…None of us lives only to please ourselves. And we do not die to please ourselves…’
vs8 ‘…While we live, we want to please the Lord. And when we die, we want that to please the Lord too. So, while we live, or if we die, we continue to belong to the Lord…’
vs9 ‘…Christ died and then he became alive again. That happened so that he could be the Lord of all people, those who have died and those who are still alive…’
vs10 ‘…So then, if you eat only vegetables, you must not judge other believers. Also, if you eat anything, you must not think that you are better than other believers. Remember that all of us will have to stand in front of God. He will decide whether we have done what is right or wrong…’
vs11 ‘…This is written in the Bible: The Lord God says, as surely as I live, this will certainly happen: Everyone will go down on their knees in front of me. Everyone will praise me that I am God…’
vs12 ‘…So each of us will have to explain to God about the things that we have done…’
Do not cause trouble
vs13 ‘…So we must no longer judge other believers. Instead, you must decide never to bring trouble to another believer. Do not cause them to do something wrong…’
vs14 ‘…As for me, I am sure that we may eat any kind of food. God does not think that any food is unclean. The Lord Jesus has shown me that that is true. But someone else may believe that it is wrong to eat certain food. For that person, it would be wrong to eat that kind of food…’
vs15 ‘…You should not cause another believer to be sad because of what you eat. If you do make him sad, then you are not really loving him. Remember that Christ died on behalf of that person. So do not let your food make him turn away from God…’
vs16 ‘…You may think that something is good. But still, you should not do it, if other people will say that it is bad…’
vs17 ‘…We belong to God’s people, and he is our King. The things that we eat, and drink are not really important to him. This is important: We should do what is right. We should have peace in our minds. And we should be truly happy. God’s Holy Spirit helps us to live like that…’
vs18 ‘…If anyone serves Christ in that way, they will make God happy. And other people will respect them…’
vs19 ‘…So then, we should try to live in a way that brings peace. We should try to help each other so that we become stronger as God’s people…’
vs20 ‘…Do not bring trouble to someone because of the food that you eat. Do not destroy what God has done in the life of another believer. God lets us eat all kinds of food. But do not eat anything that will cause another believer to do something wrong…’
vs21 ‘…It is good not to do anything that might cause another believer to do something wrong. That includes if you eat meat or if you drink wine…’
vs22 ‘…What you believe about these things should be a secret between yourself and God. You should do what you have decided is right for you. Do not feel guilty about what you eat. Then God will bless you…’
vs23 ‘…But someone else may not be sure whether it is right to eat certain kinds of food. If that person does eat that kind of food, then he shows that he is guilty. He has not trusted God that it is right for him to do that. Whatever things we do, we must trust God about them. If we do not trust God that something is right, then it is a sin…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
This is a great chapter; in other words, keep your eyes on yourself. Don’t worry about what the person next to you is doing.
The AKJV basically says the same thing, just different and sometimes, maybe more confusing words are used.
Can you just imagine what this world would be like if we all lived this way? If everyone worried about what they were doing instead of worrying what someone else is doing.
If we only worried about what we were doing ourselves and we took our eyes off someone else and kept them only on ourselves, what an example it would be for us.
This chapter in Romans brings this chapter in Matthew to mind.
JUDGING OTHERS
Matthew 7
vs1 ‘…Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you…’
vs2 ‘…for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others…’
vs3 ‘…Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye…’
vs4 ‘…How dare you say to your brother, Please, let me take that speck out of your eye, when you have a log in your own eye…’
vs5 ‘…You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
In verse 6, Jesus voices one of those verses found in the Bible that should be dissected word by word for hopefully, a clearer explanation.
Matthew 7:6 ‘…Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, they will only trample them underfoot…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Holy – Dogs – Pearls – Pigs
The Bible considers ‘HOLY’ to be a state of being separate from sin and evil and living in a way that reflects God’s glory.
As with everything in our life, there is God’s that is Holy and then there is a Human that is Holy.
The Bible describes God as being perfect, unstained by sin, and does and says everything right.
The Hebrew word for ‘Holy’ literally means ‘separate’ or ‘set apart.’
The Bible teaches us that human beings can be Holy by living in accordance with God’s standards and rules, rather than the ways of the world.
This means being set apart from sin and living a life of moral purity.
The Bible also teaches us that holiness is a natural result of being saved by God’s Grace and filled with His Spirit.
It’s important that we step back from time to time and take a look at ourselves. We need to see if how we appear is what we want to portray to God and to others that we meet throughout our daily lives. Does God and others see us in the same way as we might see ourselves?
We need to confess our sins when we fail and actually, God has already seen our failures. We don’t need to confess our wrongs to God because He already knows. But what we really need to do is to confess our wrongs to ourselves. It is that recognition that lets us know that we’ve done something wrong.
That little criticism that we acknowledge that we made a mistake could go a long way in the future.
And with what I just said about our failures, I think it is also just as important that we give ourselves a little pat on the back when we’ve done something right. A little hi-five, every now and then, could help us all to become better.
Fellowship with other Christians can also be a source of strength in living a Holy life.
We are never going to be perfect as Jesus was when He was walking on this earth. We should stop beating ourselves up because we feel we cannot compete with the way we are told how He lived.
We shouldn’t be comparing ourselves with the person next to us either, we should remain unique and compare ourselves to ourselves and make certain what we’re doing is the right thing.
Verse 6 uses the word ‘dogs.’ The Romans called the Jews dogs back in Matthew’s time, but it has been written in several commentaries that a dog back in the time of Matthew was nothing like how we have a dog in our house today. Dogs ran in packs back in the days of Matthew. They were not peoples house pets like they are today in many homes throughout the country.
In the ancient world, dogs were largely half-wild, dirty, greedy, snarling, vicious, flea-bitten, diseased, mongrel scavengers. They were often on the point of starvation and were known to devour corpses, and attack humans, in the night. Clearly literal ‘dogs’ in the ancient world were dangerous and despised.
In other words, in vs6, what Jesus is explaining is if someone isn’t open to listening to you, there is no reason to continue speaking to them.
To clarify the comment a little, most people will initially resist hearing about the Gospel, but here Jesus is not speaking of resistance in general but of a vicious attack against the Lord and His Gospel.
Maybe the major point in this verse was, while followers in Jesus must not be guilty of condemning anyone, we must learn to discriminate when we witness or speak of the Word.
Keep your Bibles open and continue reading of the Love that is shown to us. When you see those around you, share in that same love. Be ready to share the Word with those that you meet. Do not be afraid of repeating the Word to others. Let others know how much you love God.
I love all of y’all.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>