Matthew Chapter 7
1/12/2015
#4: Jesus opens up chapter seven by addressing the topic of judging others. This is a problem a lot of Christians can fall victim to. It's very easy for us to set on a high horse and judge others for their sins and shortcomings. But we need to realize that we are also sinners and we too will make mistakes. It is not right for us to judge others and we need to take a look in the mirror and see if we have any sins or problems going on in our own lives as well. That being said we as Christians are called to lovingly rebuke fellow Christians who are being sinful but this is not done in judgement but in loving correction. We should also encourage non-believers who are stuck in sin but we need to do this without judgement and ridicule. So next time someone who works for a beer company comes in your church, don't instantly think " Look at that sinner, he works for a liquor company." Get to know the person first and see where his heart and walk with Christ is you may be surprised by the answers you find. Show Christ's love to everyone, not false judgment.
#3: Are things not going right in your life? Are you struggling with some major issues and just can't seem to find help or a way through the situation? Jesus provides an answer to this problem in verses 7 through 12. Here He tells us that we need to ask and we shall receive, seek and we shall find, knock and the door shall be open. This passage is encouraging us to pray and pray often. He is asking us to practice persistent prayer. He tells us that God will alway provide what we need so long as we ask Him for it. He will answer our prayers in some way if we just pray to Him. God may not answer our prayers in a direct and obvious way but He will always make it work if it is something you truly need it.
#2: Verses 19 through 20 gives us a stern warning to watch out for false prophets. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." This is Jesus' warning to keep an eye out for false teachers and leader who may be trying to lead you away from God. It is always a good practice to take a close look at who is leading you in your Christian walk. You should look to see what kind of life they live, see if they use the Bible when teaching and leading, see if they are continually pointing their followers to Christ. Don't just follow someone because they make you feel good or because they have a positive message. There are a number of churches that teach great messages but don't follow the Bible or even reference it in their sermons. Don't fall into self-help Christianity. If Christ is not at the center of the message and if the message isn't centered around Biblical text then you should think about who you ar listening to. It's also important to watch who you follow in the world, celebrities and world leaders do not always make the best choices in what they stand for. Don't let social media and new outlets determine your beliefs. Don't let society pressure you into ignoring and accepting sin, these outlets can be false prophets luring you away from the Lord.
#1: How do you tell if you are dealing with a false prophet? Jesus tells us to look at the fruit he is producing. (V17-20) Look at the person you are following, are they producing any good fruit? Are they leading people to Christ, are they pointing their followers to the scriptures and to God? Are they living a healthy Christian life with their friends and family? Do they have a strong prayer life and quiet time in the Word? Are they being loving to others even those who don't agree with them? These are just some of the things that you could look for and I am sure there are many more and maybe some better examples. The point is that you should be able to look at those Christian leaders around you and see good fruit. Jesus tells us plain and simple a bad tree can't produce good fruit so look for good fruit.
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