Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Summary:
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spiri1Th 4:8
Introduction:
There are two types of labor in this life. We can labor for spiritual rewards or we can labor for carnal rewards. The labor for spiritual rewards is why man was created and placed on this earth. To serve, worship, and please his maker. Carnal labor ends in vanity.
1.
What instruction did the Lord give to the Jews of His day? John 6:24-27
Christ admonition to the Jews is valid for all today; we are to labour for the meat, which endureth unto eternal life. All of the world's riches and pleasure only provide temporary relief, true wealth and joy is found in the word of YHWH. "I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad." Psa 119:96.
John 6:24
When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
John 6:25
And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
John 6:26
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
2.
What good intentioned service did Martha engage in? Luke 10:38-40
The best service we can give to our Lord is to abide in his presence. Only when we spend time with him we are able to be as he is. Martha was pre-occupied with impressing our Lord with her works but Mary was curious of his every word.
Luke 10:38
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luke 10:39
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luke 10:40
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
3.
What was the Lord's response? Luke 10:41, 42
Everything is for a time and a season; they will all come to an end or we will leave them behind, but the word of the Lord will preserve us unto eternal life. Let us remain focus on what is truly meaningful.
Luke 10:41
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luke 10:42
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
4.
What fatherly instruction did the Lord give to man? Jeremiah 9:23, 24
We must not allow the enemy to distract us from our true purpose which is to radiate or reflect Christ within us. We must endeavour to show/model loving-kindness, and do righteous judgment because these are the things which brings delight to our LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
5.
How dishonorable are the good works of the disobedient before God? Proverbs 21:27; Matthew 7:21-23
We must not be naive, obedience is of utmost importance to YHWH; when we live contrary to His word, our best deeds (charitable works) are an abomination unto YHWH: He rejects us along with our sacrifices.
Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
6.
How does Jesus compare the labor of this world and the labor for the next world? Matthew 11:28-30
The labour of this world is arduous, but the way of the Lord is easy. We strive not for pride, we strive to give Christ glory.
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
7.
What does Jesus say of those who labor for achievement? What does He say of those who labor for humility? Luke 18:9-14
The deceitfulness of riches shall bring many to shame. Christ said, "For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." A broken and contrite heart YHWH would never despise.
Luke 18:9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luke 18:10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke 18:12
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 18:13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
8.
What is the reward for our unseen labor? Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 14:12-14
We must not labour to receive praises of men, we must labour as the servants of the LORD, being His hands and feet knowing, that He who sees in secret will reward His servants openly.
Matthew 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 6:2
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:3
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Matthew 6:4
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Luke 14:12
Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luke 14:13
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luke 14:14
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
9.
How commendable was the deed of the window's mite? Mark 12:41-44
It is commendable to put YHWH first, when we put Him first and give Him the best and even all that we have, the Lord takes great pleasure in our Labour.
Mark 12:41
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mark 12:42
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mark 12:43
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mark 12:44
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
10.
Does God forget our labor of love shown in His name and especially among the brethren? Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 10:41, 42; Matthew 25:34-40
YHWH takes care of His own, when we allow ourselves to be used by His Spirit in the vineyard, attending to the needs of the less fortunate, He does not forget our labour of love and he rewards us abundantly.
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Matthew 10:41
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Matthew 10:42
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:35
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Matthew 25:36
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:37
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:38
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Matthew 25:39
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
11.
How did the Lord commend and honour the deeds and labor of the woman with the alabaster box? Matthew 26:7-13
YHWH memorialized the woman with the alabaster box. He honored her by ensuring her deed was mentioned throughout the entire world and from generation to generation.
Matthew 26:7
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Matthew 26:8
But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Matthew 26:9
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Matthew 26:10
When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Matthew 26:11
For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Matthew 26:12
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Matthew 26:13
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
12.
What instruction did John give to those who came to his baptism? Matthew 3:5-10
John told the Pharisees and the Sadducees to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, they were to prove that they were true servants of the LORD by their sincere love to others.
Matthew 3:5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Matthew 3:6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Matthew 3:10
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
13.
What type of fasting does God reject? Isaiah 58:1-5
When we fast we must not do it to be seen of men nor to receive advantage over others; we must fast to be drawn closer to the LORD and to receive of His manifold blessings.
Isaiah 58:1
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Isaiah 58:3
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Isaiah 58:5
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
14.
What type of fasting does God reward? Isaiah 58:6-12; Zechariah 7:4-13; Matthew 6:16-18
When we do things from the heart, with love and empathy the LORD is joyfull, we must be kindly affectionate one to another realizing we are one another's keeper.
Isaiah 58:6
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isaiah 58:8
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Isaiah 58:9
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Isaiah 58:10
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
Isaiah 58:11
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah 58:12
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Zechariah 7:4
Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
Zechariah 7:5
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Zechariah 7:6
And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
Zechariah 7:7
Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Zechariah 7:8
And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
Zechariah 7:9
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zechariah 7:10
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Zechariah 7:11
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Zechariah 7:12
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 7:13
Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:17
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Conclusion:
We are all a manifestation of YHWH: we must empathize with humanity and be zealous unto all good works. When we live our lives in the service of the LORD our Labours would not be in vain.
This page was updated by: Bro.Patrick tripple7@vipowernet.net on 7/25/2010 12:56:15 AM
JEREMIAH 7 - SELF-DECEPTION AND MINGLED RELIGION
It is time for the watchmen to blow the trumpet: destruction is all around us and Christ is pleading that we should amend our ways. It is only when we walk fully in the word of YHWH we will be able to receive of His manifold blessings, therefore let us take heed to the word of YHWH, to obey is much better than to sacrifice.
Urgent Prayer Request
I am asking everyone to say a prayer for my friend Ben. He suffered a stroke which paralyzed one side of this body. He was then diagnosed with Lupus. The doctors then found a tumor in his brain. He's in pretty bad shape, but I know God will see him through. Please say a prayer for Ben.
Urgent Prayer Request
We are requesting for all to keep Bro. Patrick, Sis. Sephora, Bro. Defoe, and Sis. Defoe in prayer. They are very sick and are in great need of our prayers. Whenever you have a chance, please just bow your head and mention these lovely brethren that God will work his miraculous mercy and their healing will their life long testimony.
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