Opening Prayer - Heavenly Father we thank You for the opportunity to learn about Your Word. We pray that you will help us to understand these verses in Matthew so we can fulfill our purpose in life. May everyone who tunes in this evening receive a blessing and learn from your Word and be able to apply what we have learned in our daily lives. We're eternally thankful for this ministry, and we pray that we can share these websites with others and many people can begin to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Worship music - Please click the links and sing along if you know the words (You can also click skip ad to go straight to the songs) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6_F-NaryUY&index=16&list=RDkIEEz9yaukA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW89et5mKxs&list=RDkIEEz9yaukA&index=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXx30llZ-rU&list=RDkIEEz9yaukA&index=40
For Wednesday evening services, the Lord has lead me to do a Bible study for practical Bible verses in Matthew. Please come back to these Bible lessons in order to review them and learn them. Whenever we have learned the meaning of Bible verses and think about them throughout each day, we will be in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Not only that, but when we are in a situation in our daily lives and are tempted to sin, we can think back to what we have learned from the Bible and say to ourselves, "The Bible says to not do what I am tempted to say, think, do, and/or desire right now, so I am going to refuse to give in to this temptation." This is what Romans 12:2 means, and it says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This is also the pattern that Jesus used when the devil tempted Him to sin in Matthew 4:1-11.
Chapter 10
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
(Matthew 10:16-23 are instructions for future disciples, but they have helpful advice for us today.)
Matthew 10:23-31
23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(Christians should seek protection if someone goes through their area and commits acts of violence against Christians, because there are many more people they can reach with the message of Jesus. This happened to the early church in Acts when Saul was throwing Christians in prison. As a result, they left the area, and while they fled, they were able to go every where and tell people how to become Christians. Acts 8:1-4 recorded this and says, "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."
Christians should seek protection in events like this, but if they feel that the Holy Spirit is urging and giving them thoughts to go somewhere in order to tell people how to become Christians or help them in other ways, they should go and do that, even if they are afraid of someone killing them (Matthew 10:28).
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
(The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power Satan. If people said things like that to Jesus (who is perfect), they do not have a problem saying things like that to Christians. When Christians try to live the Christian life (see chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com), people may accuse them of doing evil. For example, they may accuse a Christian of adding to the gospel when they tell people that if they aren’t willing to repent of their sins “from this moment on”, aren’t willing to follow (imitate and obey) Jesus “from this moment on”, and aren’t willing for Jesus to become the Lord of their life “from this moment on” (These things basically mean the same thing.), their heart isn’t prepared to receive Jesus, even if they believe that He died on the cross to erase their sins. When people accuse Christians of such things, they shouldn't let them stop them from living the Christian life, and in this example, they should calmly tell them that they don’t want to argue, and instead give them this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/nocontridiction)
26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. (Jesus doesn't want Christians to be afraid of witnessing, teaching the Bible, talking about verses in the Bible, praising Him, encouraging others, counciling with others, etc.) 28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (People kill some Christians because they tell others how they can go to heaven when they leave this world, but the Christians' souls go to heaven. Although, some people pray or make decisions to become Christians, but they prove that they're not really Christians because every time they know that they should witness to and/or do other things to help others, they don't because they are afraid that someone will kill them (see chapter 16 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com). 29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(God is in control of everything, and no matter what happens each day (good or bad), He allows it to happen. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This means that if you are a Christian, God causes good things to happen and allows bad things to happen to you throughout your life. These things may be a job loss, a vicious rumor being spread about you, being betrayed by a close friend, being robbed, being made fun of, becoming bankrupt, a physical or mental illness, your identity being stolen, or a death in the family, etc. God allows events like these to happen in order to test you.
If you are really a Christian, you will not give up living the Christian life (see chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com) and never return to living that lifestyle if you experience trials. This is what James 1:2-4 teaches, and it says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." This is also explained in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:20-21). Once you realize that your faith is real, you are able to love and appreciate God even more and are able to face the next trial with more strength and enthusiasm.
In addition to these things, God knows how and when you will leave this earth. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 confirms, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" Therefore, with all of the biblical proof that has been given, Christians shouldn't be afraid to tell others how they can become Christians because they are afraid of being killed.
In conclusion, if you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but aren't living the way the words in (parenthesis) have described in this message, please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/makingsure
(If you have not prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, you must be willing to repent "from this moment on and for the rest of your life" before you pray or make a decision to become a Christian (This concept is explained in these websites - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/theanswer and http://chriswaug5.wix.com/nocontridiction). If you are willing to live this way, please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven)
(If you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but you are not sure that you are really a Christian (Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 21:18-22, 1 John 5:14, and Hebrews 11:1), you need to be sure - please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven)