"Keeping" His Commands

Transcription

1 "Keeping" His Commands Demonstrating My Love For Jesus By Eric Samuelson 19DT V5 One of many tools and services available at

2 "Keeping" His Commands Jesus said, Those who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. John 14:21 NCV Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4 ESV In case you ever wondered what it would take to walk in God s favor and approval, your search is over. Jesus Himself made it very clear. For about three years, He taught a new spiritual doctrine on hillsides and at dinner tables, at weddings, funerals, and religious gatherings. If His only role in life was to offer eternal life as the Messiah, He could have gone to the cross much earlier than He did. Instead, He modeled sonship with His Father and encouraged us to imitate Him. He also spoke of the glories of His coming Kingdom while showing compassion for the sick and the maimed. It appears He looked for two simple qualities in those who claimed to be His authentic followers: the willingness to learn and then implement His teachings. In doing so, His followers would be solely focused on the Father s will and they would develop the character qualities of the Lord Jesus. This exercise is devoted to identifying many of His clearest commands and documenting how we will personally adopt them into our value system and our decision-making. Scoring Instructions On the following pages, read the Scripture and the column entitled, Which Means Reflect on the question we ve posed to you and give yourself a score on a 1-10 scale which reflects how well you are already implementing this Command of Christ. Finally jot down a quick thought as to how you might better implement this particular command. All Bible references are NKJV unless otherwise noted. 2

3 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Mat 4:4 Be led by the Spirit, not by your passions. Does the Holy Spirit primarily govern your decisions, or do your emotions have more influence? Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" Mat 4:7 Do not be presumptuous about God s provision. He wants mature believers to live by principles, not to expect miracles. Are you regularly looking for a spiritual bailout? Or do you operate by strength of character? Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" Mat 4:10 Give your spiritual devotion solely to the Lord. Vigorously avoid worshipping any idols or false gods. Has anything or anyone in your life been given a place of honor above God? Is there a risk of creating an idol? From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mat 4:17 Get your heart right with God. He is reintroducing His Kingdom government into the earth and would like you to assist Him in that work. Confession is an admission of sin and guilt, whereas repentance involves a change of heart and behavior. Are you prepared to live righteously before God? 3

4 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:3 Maintain an understanding that you are spiritually destitute and bring nothing of value into your relationship with God. Be honest -- do you feel any pride from your good works? That is not poverty of spirit. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mat 5:4 When you deeply regret your sins, God s peace will abound. Are you truly broken over the wrong you ve done? Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:5 Maintain an inward belief which trusts that God cares deeply for you and wants to redeem every painful experience you ve ever suffered. Although He didn t cause the pain, can you accept that the Lord is at work converting your life s difficulties and tragedies into something for your benefit? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Mat 5:6 Maintain a lingering passion to ingest God s truth and to see His justice performed. Are you consistent in reading the Bible and in wanting to see His Kingdom principles implemented in civil society? 4

5 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Mat 5:7 Releasing those who have offended you from the consequences of their failures ensures that God will return the favor. Are you holding anyone prisoner in your heart for an offense that may be long past? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Mat 5:8 When your heart is cleansed of sin, when your motives are selfless, and when you adopt holiness as a standard, God reveals profound truths about Himself and His strategic plans. Do you have any pre-occupations, any willful ambitions, any doublemindedness that has walled off a portion of your heart from the Lord? Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Mat 5:9 Those who attempt to heal disputes and promote authentic unity are seen as mature sons in the Body of Christ. They are imitating Jesus who is the Mediator of the New Covenant. Civic leaders call for unity, but often speak divisively. Is there evidence that you are building authentic, lasting bridges of reconciliation for others? Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:10 Allow yourself to be insulted or hated for following Christ. Our lives may inadvertently reveal the ungodliness of others, yet we remain blessed by God. Have you been treated unfairly or maliciously when your know your motives were pure? How did you respond? 5

6 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mat 5:16 Allow the goodness of God to become evident in your life, drawing others who then give credit to your heavenly Father. Your gifts and talents are without repentance (no need hide or be ashamed of them). Do you give God the glory for your talents? Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. Mat 5:25 Reconciliation and agreement are exceptionally important to avoid provoking the intervention of civil authorities who may see you as a disrupting influence. Unresolved conflict can escalate into broken relationships, legal battles, and physical assault. Do you use Matthew 18 to resolve differences with your adversaries? If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also; and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Mat 5:40-41 Voluntarily investing into the life of those who abuse you brings an opportunity 1) to witness and 2) to overcome any hostility between you. Do you only do the minimum amount of what s expected of you? That s a recipe for bitterness. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Mat 5:44 Blessing and loving those who unfairly do you wrong is an essential quality to avoiding bitterness, purifying your heart and making you available for God s purposes. Are you living up to this counterintuitive lesson? Who needs your prayer rather than your judgmental attitude right now? 6

7 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Mat 6:3-4 Avoid seeking the praise of men when doing good. Seeking their approval marks you as one who draws his identity from others rather than from his relationship with the Lord. Do you seek recognition for charitable works? Can you do your good deeds quietly, or do you need the applause of your peers? But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Mat 6:6 Prayer is intimate communication with the Lord, not an opportunity to prove one's piety to others. God honors the private heart motive of your prayer. Instead of making a show of your piety, are you willing to be reserved and understated? Exactly what is your preferred source of approval? heaven or earth? But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Mat 6:17-18 Just as with charity and prayer, keep your fasting private. Continue to avoid any appearance that you seek the praise and notoriety of men. Again, be truthful, do you need the approval of others when fulfilling the commands of God? Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Mat 6:19-21 Be resolute in drawing your identity from your heavenly Father. As children in the King s royal family, do not allow the culture to tarnish your heritage. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth to show Himself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. Is your heart consecrated to the work of God, or is it desperately seeking to keep score in earthly terms? 7

8 seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Mat 6:33 Trust in God s provision. Continually searching for the truth and the manifestation of God s Kingdom should be the primary focus of your life. Everything else will be supplied. Does God s call on your life truly have primacy? Do you receive and cherish the righteousness of Christ? Does the reputation of His Kingdom hold sway over you? Judge not, that you be not judged. Mat 7:1 Avoid returning to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We were swiftly removed from the Garden for eating its fruit. Do you attempt to prove who s right or wrong in an given situation? Are you God s arbiter of truth? Think again. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Mat 7:15 Be mindful of persuasive, counterfeit people masquerading as holy and virtuous ministers. Are you easily persuaded by false doctrines and enchanting phrases? Are you a gullible person? Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mat 11:28-29 You will either serve Satan or God. Take on the peacemaking, custom-made yoke offered by Jesus. His assignments are born from His attitude of complete submission. Do you trust the living God enough to give Him the entirety of your burdens? Does His humble approach inspire or offend you? 8

9 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Mat 12:36-37 Be slow to speak and especially avoid foolish conversation. Avoid slander and gossip as your own words will eventually be used to judge you. Do you talk too much? Do you fill the air with idle chatter in the hopes that you ll be heard by your much speaking? But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Mat 18:6 Be extremely careful not to bring sin into the life of a child. God judges that harshly. If this applies to you, fall to your knees instantly. Cry out for mercy and seek to right whatever wrongs you ve committed. Pity the one who fails to do so. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Mat 18:15-17 Be quick to use Christ s practical peacemaking and reconciliation strategy. Avoid division in the body of Christ, but be quick to heal it. Is it your habit to brood upon grievances or to share them with others? The Bible encourages us to go to our offender alone. "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Mat 18:19-20 God Himself is present when 2-3 believers are gathered in His name. Agreement built around spiritual principles releases remarkable, heavenly power. Unity in the Body is so appealing to the Lord that it compels Him to act decisively. Amos 3:3 states: How can two walk together unless they be agreed? Do you access the remarkable power of agreement? Or are you content to leave division in the Body of Christ? 9

10 but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Mat 20:26b Serving is the key to greatness just as giving is the key to wealth. Do you secretly wish to be served? Or do you seek out ways to serve others? And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Mat 22:21 The civil authorities are ordained by God. Give them honor and pay the taxes they extract. Give God His proper due as well. The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord. Do you only follow the authorities who please you? Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Mat 28:19-20 Teach the principles of Christ and model the practices which He taught. These commandments lead to joy, love, peace, and wisdom. Stay with people until they come to a full measure of maturity. Don t evangelize baby Christians and leave them untended. Do you know the commands of Christ? Do you have a discipleship leader who persuades you to live them out? Are you drawing others to your light? Do you even want to? For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. Luke 14:11,13 Doing charitable deeds at this level means giving to those who have no means of repaying you. Avoid doing tradeouts in the Kingdom. Jesus watches for and honors those who serve the least of His brethren. Are you doing transactions in the name of Jesus? Or do you unselfishly serve those who have absolutely no means of repaying you? 10

11 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 Christ commands us to love one another. As He is the very Author of love, we thereby demonstrate our love for Him to the unbelieving world. Are you able to love others sacrificially, as Jesus did? Can you lay down your life for another person, even when they condemn you? Activating John 14:21 Reflecting on the Commands of Christ Lessons I ve learned from this exercise: 11

12 Three commands I intend to follow more closely are: 1) 2) 3) My prayer for God s grace in following Jesus more closely is: 12