Bible Series 2011: Jesus Teaches About Oaths and Eye for Eye...: Matthew 5:33-42

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord,"  Matthew 5:33  You know, there is not a day that goes by that someone in the world is not taking an oath for some reason or another.  It could be the president of the United States of America who takes the oath of office every 4 years on January 20th.  The oath ends, "So help me God."  This basically means, whatever it is that you are taking an oath for, you are asking God for your help during these times.

At the same time, when you accept Jesus Christ to be your savior, know that He is the Son of God and that He is the Messiah, then you are claiming an oath to follow Him and to seek His guidance.  This is probably, no, it is definitely, the most important oath that you can ever take.  What else is important here is to not fall back on your old ways and to remove Him from your life.  Study the Word, Pray daily over all things good and bad, fellowship with your Christian brother and sister and make an oath that you will witness Him to others who are lost and have not yet spoke the oath and then you will know that you have kept your promise.

Jesus Teaches About an Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, Matthew 5:38-42  "You have heard that it was said, Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

The way society is and the way it is today, especially, it seems to forget this beatitude.  There are court systems set up throughout the world to handle all sorts of aspects of life dealing with capital crimes, war crimes, business dealings, you name it, they are there.  We are judged in these courts for what we have done whether it be good or bad.   Jesus tells us to not fret if we are struck.  He tells us to give us our cloak to the one who wants our tunic.  Why not give it to him? 

Then He goes on to say that if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  Simply put, do not stop, keep going.  Witness to the people.  Tell them the story of Jesus.  Talk to them about the Gospel.  Go the extra mile.  Do not be afraid.

 And, finally, for the one that asks for something, give it to him and tell him to Pray it forward.  Many times the one who gives does not ask for it back.  Spread the News of the Gospel and make it the best time you could ever have.  If someone wants to borrow from you, give it to him.  This one is a little tougher, but look at it this way:  Does some one want to borrow your Bible?   Does someone need your help financially or need that one tool to get a job done?  If so, give it to him.  However it turns out in the end, remember it is for God to judge, not you or me.

Scripture from the New Testament, NIV, Thoughts following are from David Brown, co-founder of Mission Lighthouse Ministry.
 

Do You Believe Yet? A Look at History and then You Decide on God or Coincidence

First, I would like to say that our prayers are going out to the people of Japan as well as those in Hawaii and on the West Coast of the United States after the powerful 8.9 Quake that hit in the afternoon in Japan.  May God be with you and your families as you now struggle for survival as well as rebuilding after this devastating act of nature.

Now, I want to share with you, not only with my Christian Brothers and Sisters, but those who have yet to find the Lord Your God, a couple of stories that I read from a book entitled, "Psalm 91:  God's Shield of Protection," written by Peggy Joyce Ruth and Angelia Ruth Schum.  It is a book that I was given at a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Event the weekend of March 4-6, 2011 from the Chaplain Corps of the 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support out of Fort Gillem, Georgia.

What I would like to first say is this:  Psalm 91 is referred to as the Soldier's Prayer and this is what is said in the Psalm from the Old Testament of the Holy Bible:

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!"

For it is He who delivers you

from the snare of the trapper

And from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions

And under His wings you may seek refuge;

His refuge is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand  at your right hand,

But it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes

And see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the LORD, my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you,

Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

To guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands,

That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra,

The young lion and the serpent

you will trample down.

"Because He has loved Me,

therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him securely on high,

Because he has known my name.

"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him, and honor him.

"With a long life I will satisfy him,

And let him behold My salvation.""

Psalm 91 is very powerful and in the book, Psalm 91, there are many stories of God's love upon His people throughout the many wars and conflicts that have effected our world, our country and our lives.  So, in reading the book, I would like to share at this moment in time, two stories that I read.  One comes out of the Second World War and the other out of the present day conflict in both Afghanistan and Iraq.  Just know this, if you do not know God now, I surely hope that you give yourself room in your heart for Him and for His Son Jesus Christ.

Bill's Goats and Dunkirk, France (World War II)

Chapter 16, God Answers My Call, Psalm 91, ppgs. 104-108.  "He will call upon me, and I will answer Him (Psalm 91:15.)  The story opens up with a young man named Bill who had a heard of goats on some land by the bayou.  During recent floods and with the flood waters rising, some men saw the goats being overtaken by the flood and hoisted them up into the loft of a barn so that they would not drown.

By the next morning the water turned into something like a rushing river about a mile wide.  It began to wash away uprooted trees and everything in its path.  By this time, Bill heard about what was going on with his goats and he set out in a tin-bottom boat to do what he could to rescue his goats.  If he was unable to get to them he knew that they would die from thirst and suffocation.

One of the goats named, Little Willie, was the most precious of the herd.  The reason for this was that Bill had spent much time bottle-feeding Little Willie.  The first cry from the herd was from Little Willie and Bill could hear this as he approached the barn in his boat.  When Bill was able to force open the loft door amid the rushing waters, the first goat to jump was Little Willie and he landed in his arms.  Boatload by boatload, goat by goat, Bill was able to get every one of his goats out of the loft and to safety.

A television camera crew from Abilene saw what was going on and made the story of the saving of the goats a news story that was shown both on the six o'clock news and then again at ten o'clock.  This story was extremely heartwarming.  GOD is extremely merciful and He certainly answers us when we are sincere in our call for help.

Location of British troops and German 

troops at Dunkirk, France

There is no doubt how important individual prayer is.  Then comes the story of Dunkirk, France during World War II.  This is where how important collective prayer is.  The story of Dunkirk goes something like this.  Early on in the war, there were hundreds of thousands of British, French and Belgian troops trapped with the German army just miles behind them and the English Channel in front.  The English Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, warned the nation of Great Britain, that no more than twenty or thirty thousand of the two hundred thousand British soldiers would be rescued from the exposed beaches.  What happens after this is most astonishing and definitely underestimates the power of an entire nation in prayer.

Troops being rescued and evacuated from Dunkirk. 

The Church of England filled to capacity, the King and Queen knelt at Westminster Abby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the good Wilhelmina, and members of parliament were all on their knees.

Now there were three things that occurred during this time:

1.  There was a sudden regrouping of the German troops and the Nazi generals ordered a halt twelve miles from Dunkirk.  Hitler made a rash decision to hold the troops there indefinitely.

2.  The weather became a great hindrance to the enemy planes that were firing on the English trapped on the French Coast.

3.  Every imaginable vessel that would float, from private boats piloted by bank clerks, fishermen, Boy Scouts, yachtsmen, barge operators, college professors, and tugboat captains began the rescue mission.  Even London fire brigade boats got in on the action.  Shipyards were even set up to repair vessels that were damaged, so that they could return to pick up more loads of soldiers.

In the end, here are the following numbers of soldiers that were rescued:   

Over 7,000 the first day

47,310 the second day

British, Belgian and French troops lining up for the evacuation

53,823, 68,014 and 64,429 in the next three days.

The final total evacuated were 338,000 British, Belgian and French Troops.  Is this not God answering the call of the collective people's in prayer?  Does this not show that prayer does work?  It is certainly hard to say no to these questions.  The answer is clear:  God does answer the call of the individual as well as the collective in prayer!

One last tidbit from this story is that on the boats that were taking soldiers to safety, men began to pray, even many who had not ever prayed before.  At a camp in England, men requested permission to pray.  This is when it became apparent to all of Britain that their prayers were being heard.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

"A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you...for you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place."  (Psalm 91:7,9).  This scripture surely fits into the category of this next story about four men who should have truly been badly wounded, if not deceased from an attack that occurred on them and their humvee at the Saddam Canal in Iraq.

The humvee, commanded by Marine Staff Sergeant Bryan Jackway was attacked by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher.  Without warning, the driver's side of the humvee had been hit by a rocket from the RPG twelve inches from where the driver was sitting.  Waves of fire and shrapnel rippled through the cramped compartment.  Such a hit rarely leaves any hint of human remains.

The high-explosive rocket hit with all of its force inside the cabin of the vehicle.  There were four men inside.  As the rocket struck the door frame, it was as if an invisible hand channeled its force.  Most of the force traveled through the driver's open window, while the rest smashed against the inside of the front glass.

The windshield exploded from the inside out.  The bulletproof glass disintegrated into a fireball.  The jagged shards of glass showered the road in front of SSgt. Jackway's humvee.  All four men were engulfed in a wall of heat and flame.  Those in vehicle's behind this humvee knew that America had just lost four Marines.

"Dear God - I'm alive!" SSgt. Jackway shouted after opening his eyes, then grabbing his chest and arm.  He was pounding himself to make sure that he was alive.  He then picked up the radio to call in casualties which he did not yet bother to look at the other men in the vehicle.  What he found was astounding.  All four had survived the rocket attack and all without a scratch!  The driver had been sitting exactly where the blast had occurred.

The following scripture from Psalm 91 was one that SSgt. Jackway could not get out of his head.    "I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.  He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue and honor him.  With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."  (Psalm 91:14-16).

Need anymore be said by what Psalm 91:14-16) says about the story told.  By the way,  this was an excerpt of a story told in a book written by Navy Chaplain (Lt) Carey H. Cash in his book, "A Table  in the Presence."

No matter whether you are a soldier, airman, Marine, Coast Guard, sailor or even a civilian, Psalm 91 is one that should be read over and over again.  It is one that is so powerful because with it God is with you.  Do not wait for trouble to come upon you.  Read it in times of safety and times that you may not feel so safe.  Read it with all of your heart and understand its meaning.  For every member of the military that believes in the LORD, this is your protection and this is all about your salvation.

Thank you to all service members everywhere for their service and for their dedication to the United States of America, the greatest country on God's green earth!

David M. Brown
Friday, March 11, 2011

Bible Study Series 2011: Jesus Teaches About Divorce Matthew 4:31-32

The subject of divorce in Christianity is a tough one.  Jesus teaches it strongly on the Mount of Beatitudes and it is one that needs to be heeded.  When a Christian man and a Christian woman are standing in front of the preacher with family and friends and God watching and listening, the oaths and the vows are one's that should last not just a lifetime but into eternity.  There is no doubt that a marriage can be tough, whether it be because of financial matters or differences between the newlyweds that surface after the fact, yet, there is always help, there is always counseling and there is always God to intercede when things seem to go wrong.

I want to share a story from a very popular, award winning play and movie.  It is called Fiddler on the Roof.  Way back in the day, according to Jewish law and tradition, it was known that marriages were established by the parents.  Usually children at an early age were "paired" up for marriage at a later time.  This did not always work out but in the play and movie, it was Tevye and Golda who learned how to love one another even though they may have been two totally different people.  During the play and the movie, Tevye come's to ask Golda if she loved him.  This was nearly 25 years after they had been married.  It appeared that the question never came up as the two of them worked to make a good family in tough times in Russia.  During the song, they finally agreed that there was love and they never found time to even think about leaving one another.

If you have not seen the movie or the play, it is a suggestion to see it.  It does not matter whether you are Jewish or Christian or otherwise.  It is a great movie and play and you will enjoy it.

Back to what Jesus says about divorce however in Matthew 4:31-32:

"It has been said, "Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery."

O.K.  So, outside of marital unfaithfulness, there is no reason to get a divorce according to Jesus Christ.  He must have said this as the words come from the Father in Heaven.  He said this because God joins man and woman in marriage and He expects such a union to stay together.  My late mother used to use the Yiddish word of kanahura (sounds and looks more Hawaiian), so I am not sure of the spelling, which I took to mean an omen.  So, if a marriage is going to end up in divorce, outside of marital unfaithfulness, know that the wife is given the omen of becoming an adulteress and the man who marries the divorced woman commits the act of adultery.  

I remember back in 2003, not long after my conversion to Christianity, a pastor saying something like the following:  He officiated at many weddings. What he did not like was when the telephone rang in his church office.  He would cringe only knowing that it was a party to a wedding that he officiated over and that it was in the process of ending in divorce.  He believed that 50 percent of those couples he married ended up in divorce and that is not a great number by any stretch of the imagination.  

The best thing to do is work out your problems together.  When things begin to get a bit out of control, nip it in the bud by taking a walk, hand-in-hand, put your arm around your wife or your husband and say the words that they yearn for, "I Love You."  If you can not do it yourselves, seek professional help by calling your pastor or a marriage counselor.  Do not do something that you will regret later on in life.

David

Next up this week is:  Jesus Teaches about Oaths

RealClearPolitics - Video - Pence: Obama "Most Anti-Israel" President In History

RealClearPolitics - Video - Pence: Obama "Most Anti-Israel" President In History

Pat on the Back: Goodbye Me, Hello Him: An Attitude Adjustment Party

The area of the Judean Desert where Jesus was tempted by the devil

A Pat on the Back:

Goodbye Me, Hello Him

“An Attitude Adjustment Party”

by

David Brown

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3.

The above scripture from the Gospel of John is no doubt extremely powerful, true and one of my favorites. Come to think of it, the entire Holy Bible is my most favorite book, and those of us who know it and believe what it says know that it is definitely, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

I am writing this post because of a recent conversation that I had with my very best friend and Brother-in-Christ. The same person who I entered into a mission of wanting to do what it takes to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, Son of God and Messiah. It was a long conversation in how we are to act in the presence of the Lord. We have to know that as Christians, we are to be no less like God and truthfully, no greater and no better than Him.

You see, as Christians we are on a worldly if not, heavenly mission. We are witnesses to the greatest man who ever walked this earth. I say man, but He was certainly more than that. He was and is the Word, and as John says in Chapter 1, Verse 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is from the New International Version of the Holy Bible as is all that is quoted in this post.

Every Sunday, I do what is necessary to attend my home church. This includes a period of fellowship first and then Bible Study and then the main service which includes Worshiping to the Lord through great music and praise and then a period of the Offering and then Communion. Following Communion, which represents Christians spending a few moments in meditation remembering what Jesus did for us when He went to the Cross with a broken body as well as a bleeding body from a whipping that no man should ever have to endure. He did and He did it for us.

Did Jesus do this to receive what the title of this post says, “A pat on the back?” No! He endured the beatings, the name calling and the going to the Cross because He knew it was coming, it was prophesied in the Old Testament, time and time again and because He sacrificed His life so that we could live a life like He did: One without sin and transgression. This is not to say that we do not sin, but we have to turn to Him when we feel ourselves falling away from the straight and narrow path.

There are many things that we do as humans and we can only hope that they are for the better rather than the worse. However, we have a daily tendency to fall away from the Lord and what He taught us and what is written in The Holy Bible. Why do we do this? Because we are a jealous people, we are a people who want something that is more in the way of materialistic things than spiritual and Godly things. I for one fall in this category at times and forget that we can't take the things that we have in this human world with us when we are called Home. It is nice to have for a while, but these things that we have do tend to get old.

Jesus never gets old.

I clearly remember a Christian song sung by children that goes something like this: “Jesus loves us because the Bible Tells Us So.” Well, this is true, He does love us and we have to turn right around and love Him for what He did for us. It is said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18). Why should we do this? Because the Bible tells us so.

Here is something else that we have to be careful of. This is something that we all might find ourselves in from time to time and that is the act of jealousy. We have to be careful here. God said to Moses on Mount Sinai in the Book of Exodus that He Himself is a jealous God and that we should not worship any other. I take this as we should not be jealous of one another as we are all in this game together. We are a team of soldiers who believe in the same thing. We need to teach others through worship, through study and through prayer that we are not jealous of one another because if we get into this situation, not only is the jealous person hurt but so is the one who we find ourselves jealous of.

In the Book of James in the New Testament, he talks about jealousy and envy. Here is what is said: “...If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” (James 3:14). And, “For where you have envy and self ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:16) There are actually two types of jealousy and one is Godly jealousy and the other is that of sinful jealousy. The title: “What does the Bible Say about Jealousy” at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090321150517AANJTPg, the following explains the two fore-mentioned types of jealousy: “Godly jealousy is jealous to protect someone from being led astray and into false worship. Sinful jealousy is when a person is concerned about them self and worried that someone may withdraw from a relationship with them because of a rival.”

Reading the above paragraph really makes me think about some things that have been a part of my life for the longest of time. I lived a life of jealousy for a long time and most of it fell in the sinful type. I found myself working and working and seeing nothing come of it. I consider myself a hard worker, but at the same time I also find myself falling short of a completed goal. At the same time I see people around me getting everything they could ever ask for and then some. This is not the right way to live and I struggle with this every day. I strive for being not only good but to be God like. I know this comes from reading the Holy Bible, knowing the Word and not getting a pat on the back for doing something good.

I hear everyday, whether it be on the radio or on the television set or on the street, “Me, me, me, me.” It is not about me if you believe. It is about Him. It is about Jesus Christ and our lives have to be Christ-centered. We have to live as He did and we have to act accordingly. We have to watch not only what we say but what we feel and what we think. We have to take the Me attitude out of our lives and bring in the Him attitude.

Let us not be jealous of one another. Let us come together and have the attitude adjustment party. Let us come together in the center and be like Christ. Let us do this through great worship, let us do this through knowing the Word and let us do this by loving one another as we would ourselves. Let us dump our pride and jealousy and rise to the occasion of Jesus Christ.

I personally start now and I challenge you, brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same.