Showing posts with label Guest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guest. Show all posts

Thursday, August 3, 2017

From time to time we will have guest articles by people who have something to say or a teaching. If you or someone you know would like to post an article here just contact me at timothy1949@tds.net  and put "article" in the subject box.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Journey to Sermon on the Mount Pt. 2

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

First let’s look at some definitions for the words used in scripture.

Mourn – to grieve (the feeling or the act), to mourn – (be) wail

Blessed are those who mourn, grieve, wail…what? Before we go there let’s look at shall be comforted.

Most of the definition for shall be comforted is not comforted as we would think.

Shall be comforted – to call near ie: invite; invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation), beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray

So those that mourn will be called near, called for, invited, beseeched (had to look this up – ask urgently and fervently to do something), desired, exhorted (again defined as strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

WOW – I want to be called near, called out, and invited! I want to be asked to do something! Do you? But by mourning and grieving?

This scripture has a reference to Psalms 126:5-6 so let’s look at it. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. So we have a pattern of tears bringing (coming with) joy, and weeping coming with rejoicing. We will come with happiness after the tears and mourning.

So fortunate and happy are those who mourn and grieve for they will be called, desired to be near and asked to do something.

But here we go again mourn what? What if it is grieving for that huge hole in our heart that we have never been able to fill? What if it is mourning the sin, the lawlessness, we see all around us? Just a thought, was Lot called out of Sodom and Gomorrah because he was grieved by everything happening around him? Do we wail with desire to please our Creator and see others doing the same? Do we grieve for a land with order under the authority of our King? Do we wail over the lack of respect for our Creator? Do we mourn for the day when we will be with Him or are we thinking of all the earthly things we may miss? Are we grieving lost time with Him so much that we are setting aside our desires to spend time with Him, learning who He is? Learning from time in His word and presence?

What if this mourning is a deep desire for more than ourselves, more than being with other humans, more than money can buy, more than entertainment brings, more than anything of this earth? What if all that it takes to be called near, invited, or urgently asked to do something is having the desire for MORE? We should all be looking at our lives and checking for this! Do we have a grievous desire for MORE? If you are content in this world there is a problem. Let’s search ourselves and our desires and make sure they line up with His.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

My Journey to the Sermon on the Mount, Carla Newton

       Bloggers note: Carla Newton is on my friends list at facebook. I have talked to her extensively and I believe she has a heart to please Yah. She told me that in this article she is trying to place herself right there at the time and hear what Messiah is saying to her. This is a thought provoking article I think you will enjoy. Please leave your comments below. Timothy
 
       How much time do we spend looking at everyone else instead of ourselves? When something happens around us, even within our friends, our congregations, or gathering of brothers and sisters do we focus more on what the other person did or what we did? What could I have done? What should I have done? What can I learn? What did I miss? What do I do now? How should I show the fruits of the spirit in any situation? How do I love and help my neighbor?
        What has been heavy on my heart as it should be for all of us, is examining myself in every single thing. Am I behaving as my Messiah would? Am I walking in the character of Him? How did He say we should be?
        This has led me to study the Sermon on the Mount in a way I never had. I will share my studies with you as I go. Please search the scriptures yourself, don’t just take my words on any of it. We should all learn a lot or grown immensely in Him and His ways as we look at this.
This is my first installment:
My journey to the Sermon on the Mount
        Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
First I had to take a look at each word. What did it mean? Is it different than we would think? One word can mean multiple things especially in a different language.
The word blessed is pretty straight forward. It means fortunate; well off, happy, happier.
        Now poor this is the one I really wanted to look at. Is it different than we think now about poor? The definition of poor does talk about a beggar but not like we think. Poor is a beggar in attitude, to crouch, fall, as cringing, absolute or public mendicancy, which I had to look up. Mendicancy defined as the state of being a beggar, straightened circumstances in private.
        So then I looked at spirit. Which is pretty much what we would think, human, the rational soul, mental disposition, it also includes angel, demon, God , Messiah.
The kingdom includes a lot we think of royalty, rule or a realm, heaven (as the abode of God) by implication. Then comes the part I didn’t think, it also means happiness, power, and eternity.
This put a whole new light on this.
        So what if this read "Blessed are those who are always in a state of humility to others, thinking themselves lower than all, because they will be happier now and eternally."
        I feel like it is easy for us to lower ourselves in humility beneath others if we feel they are in authority above us. But what about those who aren’t? What about the person who according to the world’s standards is beneath you? Do you “lower yourself” beneath them? What about the person who according to the world’s standard you should stand up against? Do you? How about the person who just literally or figuratively just smacked you in the face? Do you stand up against them or do you remain humble and lower yourself to them? What about the person who believes different than you? What about the person not walking in truth as you know it? Do we remain humble to them? Do we stay in a pauper’s stance? Are we thankful we are not like “them” or do we know we are nothing and deserve nothing? ( Luke 18:9-14)
        This is what I see in these verses and I will be examining myself! Do I stand tall and proud to the world, to some, to any? Or do I stay crouched in humility at all times?
        Please take a look at this scripture yourself, don’t take my word on it. I pray my studies will help you on your search into the words of our Messiah, who He was and how He told us to be. Blessings to all! Carla Newton