Mathew 8,9

In Mathew 8,9 Jesus went from town to town healing the sick and curing the diseased. Now I know where all these stories come from. I have heard of them before, but there is something powerful in reading it for myself. I often wondered why Jesus was healing all these people. Was he trying to prove to the people his power? There were several people that came to him just to ask for his help. I wonder if these people stayed faithful and followed Jesus after he healed them of if they took his healing for granted and turned their back on Him.

As I read on in Chapter 9, I see the calling of Mathew and I can't help but to wonder if this is why this chapter is entitled "Mathew". According to the word, Mathew was a tax collector. I haven't read on to chapter 10 quite yet, but I think I remember the people being angry that Jesus went to Mathew's house to eat with him because he was a tax collector and he overcharged people with ridiculous interest. The people were upset and asked. "How can you eat with a sinner?" Which is interesting, because, they were all sinners, just as we are today. But for some reason they did not see themselves as sinners.

This reminds me of Mathew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" They were quick to judge Mathew, but did dismissed their own sins.

I think Jesus purposedly ate with Mathew to send a message to the people and also to soften the heart of Mathew and teach him.

Mathew 7: Judging Others

I think we are all guilty of judging others. It seems easier to see what everyone else is doing wrong or unjust than see what we are doing wrong ourselves. In Mathew 7, Jesus states so clearly, "Do not judge, or you too will be judge. For in the same way you judge others, you wil be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." So you will will be judged in the same manner that you judged someone else.

Also Jesus asks, "Why do you look at the speick of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Many times we are so worried about what the next man is doing that we overlook and ignore our flaws, our sins, and our wrongdoings. First we must examine ourselves and get ourselves together before turning and judging someone else. Jesus even calls those that act in this manner a "hypocrite". Do not try to fix someone else's problems before you fix your own.

Jesus tells us not to be a hypocrite and not to judge others. Be concerned only with yourself and your own actions of faith.

Mathew 6

Jesus is giving instructions as to how to deal with giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, worrying, and treasures in Heaven.As I read in Mathew 6 today, there was one particular verse that stood out to me the most, 6:18 "...your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." This was most intriguing to me because I thought of how important it is to give and serve discreetly. Some people, give generously for all men to see. This is because they want to be noticed by men. Some men pray loudly and long becuase they want everyone to know that they are praying. This verse specificaly says whatever you do to worship God, do it discreetly not to be noticed by men, but to honor God.


Another verse that struck me while reading was 6:21, "Where your treasure is your heart will be also." Meaning if we focus on the treasures of this world our heart will be here. However, if we focus on te treasures of Heaven our heart will be with God. I know in the end I want my heart to be with God literally and figuratively. The next verse goes on to say, " The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,your whoe body wil be full of light. But ifyour eyes are bad, your whole body wil be full of darkness." There is only one way to keep our eyes good, and that is to keep them focused on Jesus. And in that way our body will be full of light.

The Power of Faith (cont)
If we make the right choices by faith wil our lives be easy and rewarding? (Hebrews 25-26, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18)

Making the right choices by faith is not easy and many times we will face uncomfortable circumstances and trials. However, by making the choice to be faithful and to continue to serve God, He will bring us out of it all. We may not be able to see the end result immediately, but faith is trusting God. We must trust God and know that if we think and act according to his word that we will be rewarded. Many times we cannot see the reward because we are so focused on the world's gifts and luxuries. But if we take our minds off this world and realize that this is only a temporary holding cell it becomes easier to make decisions based on faith. Because then we know that we are really striving to be with God eternally and that is the true reward.

In everything we do, look to please God and the rewards of his kingdom.

The Power of Faith (cont)
What risks did Daneil choose to take by faith and what was the result? Daniel 6:10

In Daniel chapter 6, there was was a decree written by the King. Actually, I am not sure that the decree was written during this particular time or some time before. As I read the text, it seems the decree was written some time before and was suppose to be enforced by all succeeding Kings.

At any rate, the decree stated that during the next 30 days anyone who prays to any god orman except the King would be thrown into the Lion's Den.

The background information in the chapter is as follows: King Darius appointed 3 administrators, one of which was Daniel. Since Daniel was so distinguished the King had planned to set him over the whole kindgdom. So all the administrators and satraps would have to report to him. Of course they did not want that. At this point the administrators and the satraps tried to fins something to charge against Daniel, but could not. They knew the only way they would fis something would be if it had something to do with the law of God.

They knew that Daniel prayed three times a day. He did not pay attention to this law of the land because he was committed to being faithful to God. So the administrators found the decree and reported this back to the King Darius. They reminded the King of the decree and also let him know that Daniel was praying. King Darius had no choice but to throw Daniel in the Lion's Den.

However, because Daniel was faithful in prayer and to God, he was spared. Daniel stayed in the den all night long and the Lions did not touch him nor harm him. He came out without any wounds.

Application: Sometimes we have to take risks of faith for God to show him we will be faithful.

What are four areas of power that authetic faith in
God will bring to your life according to Hebrews 11-24-29?


There are 4 areas of power that authetic faith in God will bring:
1. Faith will give you the power to make right choices. In Hebrews 11:24-26. Moses had the choice to stay with the Pharaoh or to go and lead the people. If he stayed with the Pharaoh he would have enjoyed a life of luxury and would not want for anything. But instead he chose to endure temporary pain for the gain of God's kingdom. He chose to lead the people. Because Moses had faith in God, he was able to make the right choice. As in Moses situation, the right choice is not always the easiest choice. We will be tempted to follow our worldly desires, but if we have faith and and trust that God's word will assist us through then it makes it easier for us to make theright choice.

2.Faith will give you the power to persevere in adversity (Hebrews 11:27) Moses was able to persevere as a sheppard and lead the people. He was faced with many challenges and many times things did not go his way. However, Moses had faith in God, so he was able to persevere through all the turmoil.

3. Faith will five you the power to receive God's protection and blessing (Hebrews 11:28)
Because Moses was faithful the firstborn of Israel did not die. If we keep coming to Jesus he will bless us and give us new hope. He will renew our spirits and give us the blessings that we need to conquer all that comes our way.

4. Faith will give you the power to overcome obstacles (Hebrews 11:29)
Think of all the obstacles that the people endured while with Moses. However, since Moses was faithful they were able to overcome them all. In this example in Hebrews 11:29, the Red Sea parted and let all the people pass, but then closed and drowned the pursuing Egyptian army. If we have faith in God he will help us through our trying times, even when it seems impossible for him to help us out of our situation.

Faith is trusting God to the extent that I think and act according to God's Word and rewards. I want to practice living faith. To do this, my actions must align with the word of God. That is my challenge as well as my goal.

The Power of Faith
Hebrews 11:24-29

"Faith is trusting God to the extent that I think and act according to God's Word and reward."-Pastor Jay Pankratz

I need to memorize this statement. Faith can be so powerful in our lives if we just beleive this one simple statement. Faith can give us victory over so many things in our lives if we just trust that God will take care of it for us when we are faithful.

In our Bible study we were to read Hebrews 11:1, 6 and then give our definition of Godly faith. Well after reading them both, they are self explanatory. Godly faith is beleiving in God enough that we are certain that He exists. Godly faith is also knowing that without faith in Him it is impossible to please Him. And if we earnestly seek Him, he will reward us.

Now although we are guaranteed positive results from God when we seek him and have faith in him, this does not always mean that we will be rewarded with earthly things. Sometimes we are so caught up in this world that we cannot see beyond our present state to eternity. Our goal should be to gain positive results for eternity. God will reward our faith with a comfortable spot with Him in eternity. So although, the luxuries of this world are nice and we all want those things, we must make sure that our eyes are still on Jesus and that we remain faithful to gain eternal rewards and not earthly rewards.

What can we do to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus?

It is difficult to keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the things of this world because we are human and we can be temptated. However, the best way for us to keep our eyes on Jesus is to first receive and accept Him in our hearts wholeheartedly. When we have Jesus in our hearts he will guide us in everything that we do and therefore help us to make wise decisions and deter us from sin.

Secondly, we need to be faithful in our worship. That means attending church every week. If there is service offered throughout the week, we should attend those services also. If we are being faithful in worshipping him, it takes our concentration off the things of this world and places our focus on Him.

Next, we should be in the Word of God. We should have daily devotions and read our Bible everyday. Now for those of us just starting off, trying to read the Bible everyday may be a little overwhelmeing. So I would suggest starting off by reading every other day and gradually adding a day until you are rady to consistently read every day. The goal is to understand the Word of God, not to just read the Bible to be reading it and to say you read for the day. So if trying to read everyday doesn't allow you to comprehend everything that you are reading, then start off slow and gradually work your way into reading more each day. Your faith is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't exhaust yourself in the beginning and then have nothing left to finish the race of faith.

Lastly, to keep your eyes on Jesus, be devoted to prayer. This is something that can be done every day. When you think of prayer, don't think that you have to get on your knees and pray beside your bed every night or every morning. Instead begin praying when you have down time. Pray in the car, while in line, in the doctor's office, in the grocery store, while exercising, etc. Jus think of all the times you could take a minute to just give thanks to God. There are more opportunities to praise God during the day than you can imagine.

I would suggest start a routine, by praying in the morning and then anytime you have any down time just give thanks to God. You will be amazed at how much you can pray throughout the day, when you just take a minute to realize how much you have to be thankful for.

Keeping these four concepts in mind will help you keep your eyes on Jesus. We may fall a little short in some areas, but continue to strive towards them all and you will be able to keep your eyes on Jesus.

Why is Jesus the ultimate model for out faith and why do we
need to keep our eyes on Him?

I want to reflect on this study question from my Bible study today by looking at Hebrews 12:2-4. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus because as it says in Hebrews 2, he is the author and the perfecter of our faith. Jesus is the perfect example of what our faith should look like. He did not sin and he stayed steadfast in his faithfulness to God despite conflict. If we keep our eyes on Him we will not become weary and weak for sin. We will know that there is a greater reward than anything that can satisfy us here in this world.
What makes this difficult for man, is that sin can be pleasurable for a short time. We get caught up in the pleasure that the sin will bring to us for that short time but forget that it is then followed by grief, guilt, trials, and dissatisfaction. Of course we don't see the immediate impact of our sins sometimes and that's why we continue to sin.
However, if we keep our eyes on Jesus it becomes more difficult for us to sin because we are so focused on Him that we are not distracted by the obstacles of sin. This is what I am striving for. I want to be strong enough in my faith that I will not be overcome by sin. I want to learn to remove the things in my life that hinder me from growing stronger in my faith and prevent me from keeping my eyes on Jesus. As I begin to remove these obstacles I will become closer to Jesus.
Actually, I can already feel a change taking place in my heart. When I make decisions now about certain things, I always have God on my mind about what to do and how to handle the situation. Unfortunately, I have not overcome the need to please men (my friends and the people around me). I am a work in progress. I will continue to seek Jesus in my quest to be more faithful.

Seven Questions toFind God's Will Regarding Change (cont) 3-7

The third question you should ask yourself is: Does God's Word clearly confirm theneed for this change? When you are looking for advice in making a decision, go to God's word. Let God's word guide you and then follow what God's word clearly tells you to do. Remember just because your circumstances all line up, does not mean it is God's will for you. Turn to His word and measure up the circumstances against his word. Which brings me to question #4:

Do the circumstances support God's leading on this issue?
After looking for confirming evidence in God's word, then look to see if the circumstances are lining up with his Word. Don't try to line up your circumstances to fit your wants. Many times we think that it is God's will for us to do something, because the circumstances may seem to line up, but are these circumstances confirming God's word? Have you tried to manipulate the circumstances to fit your needs? Take a look at Acts 11:11-15, Revelation 3:8, and Romans 8:28 to see what His word says about this.

Question #5: Will it help the spirtual needs of others?
Remember it is not all about YOU! When you make a decision it affects many people, including your family. Ask yourself when you contemplate making a decision if it is the best thing for all the parties involved. Think about yourself in your present situation and how you can help others in the situation you are in currently. How can you be a blessing to others right where you are? Try to be a blessing in your circumstance instead of waiting for another opportunity and trying to change your situation. (Acts 11:13-14, Phillipians 2:13-14).

Question #6: Is it supported by Godly leaders?
Most times when we make a life decision, we want to seek the advice or opinions of others in our life. However, not everyone is worthy of giving you sound advice. When you make a decision make sure to seek the advice of other spiritual leaders and follow their advice. These people will give you advice based on the Word of God. So don't ignore the advice of a spiritually mature individual. Proverbs 15;22, Acts: 11:12-18

Lastly, ask yourself: Are there repeated confirmations?
God will always give you confirmation that you are making a sound decision. There will be repeated confirmations in your daily life and things will line up against God's word. If you don't see these confirmations do not move ahead until you gain certainty. As you walk with God he will make things very clear for you. So if you are not walking with God, then do not make life changing decisions on your own. Be patient and walk through all 7 steps before taking a step or making a decision.
Acts 11:10,12, 18; 2Corinthians 13:2

Anointed: Am I maintaining a healthy spirtual life?

Questions 2 that we need to ask ourselves when trying to find God's Will regarding change is: Am I maintaining a healthy spirutal life? If we are in constant contact with God, his Will for us becomes quite clear. We will know God's will for our lives when we have a healty relationship with him. That means we need to be in prayer, be in His word, and be in ministry. If we are walking with God he is able to communicate with us and we will clearly be able to discern from His will and our selfish wants and desires.

Don't ever make a decision when you are not walking with God.

Verses to look at for guidance:
Acts 11:5 and Romans 12:1-2

I like Romans 12:1-2 " Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Anointed?: Seven Questions to Find God's Will Regarding Change

Last week I posed the question to everyone: How do we know we are anointed to perform a certain job? And what keeps us from following our selfish desires and disguising them as being anointed or the will of God? Well I am estatic to report my findings.

I went to church yesterday and my Pastor was preaching on this very topic. I turned to Ivan and smiled. I was so excited and very tuned in to what he had to say. According to Pastor Jay there are 7 questios that we shold ask ourselves to find God's Will when we face change. Throughout the week I will examine each one of these questions and the scriptures he presented to back them up.

The first question you should ask yourself is: Have I minimized the influence of criticism and comfort? Anytime you make a change you will criticized. If you make the right decision based on God's will you will be criticized and if you make the wrong decision you will be criticized. However, we cannot let the our critics dictate our decision. Sometimes we make a decision based on what is most comfortable for us. We like to take the path of least resistance. However, we should not be trying to please man, but always striving to please God. We know that if we try to please man, we will never completely satisfy all the parties involved. However, if we keep our eyes on Jesus and strive to please Him then we will not be forsaken.

Don't try to minimize your comfort level or criticism from others when making your decision.

Take a look at the following versus for guidance:
Acts 11:1-3, Galatians 1:10, Phillipians 1:29

Business Credit

I printed out the steps to establishing business credit back in November formt eh art of credit message board, but unfortunately that moard is not longer available. So can anyone give me those steps AGAIN. Thanks

ANOINTED

As I read in the book of Psalms I cam across the word anointed. I have read this word many times and have heard people throw the word around a lot. I never really knew what it meant. So I decided today to research what the word actually means. I found out that the word "anoint" means to pour oil on a person's head. Anointed means that God's Spirit was selecting that person do a special job.

So how do we know when were are truly anointed to do a special job or when we are really just following our own will. I hear people say all the time that they were anointed to speak in the church or to minister to others. How do they know they were really anointed to do such a thing? Who makes this determiniation. How do we really know God's Spirit is selecting a person to do a certain thing? I sometimes wonder if we are following our hearts desire and not the will of God. We know that the will of God will not lead us astray. We know that if we follow His will through His word than we cannot do wrong, but how do we know that we have been anointed and that it is God's will for us to do a certain job or duty? Hmmm....these are things that I ponder from time to time. What keeps us from following our selfish desires and disguising them as being anointed or the will of God?