Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Sunday Re Cap (27th Jan 2013)


Recap
LEARNING TO THINK RIGHT
Pr. Abel Phillips

Click here to listen


1 Cor 2:16… we have the mind of Christ.
·      "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.1 John 2:6
·      Our lives can change: We can live right by learning to think right Proverbs 23:7 says: “as a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
·      Jesus said in Matthew 15:19 that: “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (MAT 15:19-20, NIV).
·      Paul says: “I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” (Eph 4:17, NIV).

It takes more to discipline our thinking and dwell on faith-filled thoughts than to throw in the towel and accept defeat.  It takes training and cultivating the mind to acquire an attitude of faith and confidence.
Gold and diamonds are found only by much searching and mining. Similarly, a man must dig deep in the mine of his soul to find every truth connected with his being.
A man must watch, control and alter his thoughts – tracing their effect on himself, others, and his life and circumstances. In doing so he will prove to himself that he is maker of his own character, life and destiny.
Thinking Right comes to the one engaged in daily Bible reading (“day and night”):

Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success

Is 1:10 - Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God,You people of Gomorrah:

Ps 119:11 - Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Phil 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things

Can we take and honest inventory and truly say, "I have been changed! I am not perfect, but I am different! I don't think like I used to think. I don't act the same. I want to honor God now, where I used to want to honor myself. I can see where Jesus has made a difference in my life."? Has your life been changed? If it has, thank God, because only He can produce real spiritual change in the lives of men. If not, it can be changed if we are willing to come to Jesus & surrender our lives.

Application:
ü  Ask Jesus to build character within us that will be salt and light to society.
ü  Don’t measure our lives by others. Look to the exacting standards of Jesus.
ü  Meditate on God’s word to Think, Believe & Receive from Him

Lord, teach us to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, not being distracted by all the things of this world that compete for our loyalty and devotion. May each one of us continue to have personal and fresh encounter with You , bearing fruits and bringing glory to the God the Father in our lives. Amen.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Daily Bible Commentary (28th Jan-2nd Feb 2013)


Monday – 28th January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7

The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of exercising a false judgment about themselves, other people, and even the Lord. Their false righteousness helped to encourage this false judgment.  This explains why our Lord closed this important sermon with a discussion of judgment.  In it He discussed three different judgments.

Our Judgment of Ourselves Matt 7:1-5
The first principle of judgment is that we begin with ourselves. Jesus did not forbid us to judge others; for careful discrimination is essential in the Christian life. Christian love is not blind Phil 1:9-10.  The person who believes all that he hears, and accepts all who claim to be spiritual will experience confusion and great spiritual loss.  But before we judge others, we must judge ourselves.

There are several reasons for this.

We shall be judged Matt 7:1. The tense of the verb judged signifies a once-for-all final judgment. If we first judge ourselves, then we are preparing for that final judgment when we face God. The Pharisees “played God” as they condemned other people: but they never considered that God would one day judge them.

We are being judged Matt 7:2. The parallel passage in Luke 6:37-38 is helpful here. Not only will God judge us at the end, but people are also judging us right now; and we receive from people exactly what we give.


The kind of judgment, and the measure of judgment, comes right back to us. We reap what we have sown.

We must see clearly to help others Matt 7:3-5. The purpose of self ­judgment is to prepare us to serve others. Christians are obligated to    help each other grow in grace. When we do not judge ourselves, we not only hurt ourselves, but we also hurt those to whom we could minister. The Pharisees judged and criticized others to make themselves look good Luke 18:9-14. But Christians should judge themselves so that they can help others look good. There is a difference!

Let's look at our Lord's illustration of this point. Jesus chose the symbol of the eye because this is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body. The picture of a man with a two-by-four stuck in his eye, trying to remove a speck of dust from another man's eye, is ridiculous indeed! If we do not honestly face up to our own sins, and confess them, we blind ourselves to ourselves; and then we cannot see clearly enough to help others. The Pharisees saw the sins of other people, but they would not look at their own sins.


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Tuesday – 29th  January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7:1-5


In Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus used the illustration of the eye to teach us how to have a spiritual outlook on life.

We must not pass judgment on others' motives. We should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their motives-for only God can see their hearts. It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive. It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated. When we stand before Christ at the last judgment, He will examine the secrets of the heart and reward us accordingly Col 3:22-25; Rom 2:16.

The image of the eye teaches us another truth: We must exercise love and tenderness when we seek to help others Eph 4:15. I have had extensive eye examinations, and once had surgery to remove an imbed­ded speck of steel; and 1 appreciated the tenderness of the physicians. Like eye doctors, we should minister to people we want to help with tender loving care. We can do more damage than a speck of dirt in the eye if we approach others with impatience and insensitivity.

Two extremes must be avoided in this matter of spiritual self ­examination. The first is the deception of a shallow examination. Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves that we fail to examine our hearts honestly and thoroughly. A shallow glance into the mirror of the Word will never reveal the true situation James 1:22-25.

The second extreme is what I call a "perpetual autopsy." Sometimes we get so wrapped up in self-examination that we become unbalanced. But we should not look only at ourselves, or we will become discouraged and defeated. We should look by faith to Jesus Christ and let Him forgive and restore us. Satan is the accuser Rev 12:10, and he enjoys it when we accuse and condemn ourselves!

After we have judged ourselves honestly before God, and have re­moved those things that blind us, then we can help others and properly judge their works. But if we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others, we are hypocrites. In fact, it is possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin! The Pharisees were guilty of this, and Jesus denounced them for it.


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Wednesday – 30th  January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7:6-20

Our Judgment of Others Matt 7:6-20

Christians must exercise discernment; for not everyone is a sheep. Some people are dogs or hogs, and some are wolves in sheep's clothing! We are the Lord's sheep, but this does not mean we should let people pull the wool over our eyes!

The reason we must judge Matt 7:6. As God's people, we are privileged to handle the "holy things" of the Lord. He has entrusted to us the precious truths of the Word of God 2 Cor 4:7, and we must regard them carefully. No dedicated priest would throw meat from the altar to a filthy dog, and only a fool would give pearls to a pig. While it is true that we must carry the Gospel "to every creature" Mark 16:15, it is also true that we must not cheapen the Gospel by a ministry that lacks discernment. Even Jesus refused to talk to Herod Luke 23:9, and Paul refused to argue with people who resisted the Word Acts 13:44-49.

The reason for judgment, then, is not that we might condemn others, for that we might be able to minister to them. Notice that Jesus always dealt with individuals according to their needs and their spiritual condition. He did not have a memorized speech that He used with everybody. He discussed the new birth with Nicodemus, but He spoke of living water to the Samaritan woman. When the religious leaders tried to trap Him, He refused to answer their question Matt 21:23-27. It is a wise Christian who first assesses the condition of a person's heart before sharing the previous pearls. 

The resources God gives us Matt 7:7-11. Why did our Lord discuss at this point in His message? These verses seem to be an interruption, but they are not. You and I are human and fallible: we make mistakes. Only God can judge perfectly. Therefore, we must pray and seek His wisdom and direction. ''If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God " James 1:5.

Young King Solomon knew that he lacked the needed wisdom to judge Israel, so he prayed to God: and the Lord graciously answered 1 Kings 3:11-40. If we are to have spiritual discernment, we must keep on asking God, keep on seeking His will, keep on knocking at the door that leads to greater ministry. God meets the needs of His children.

The guiding principle Matt 7:12. This is the so-called' 'Golden Rule," one of the most misunderstood statements in the Bible. This statement is not the sum total of Christian truth, nor is it God's plan of redemption. We should no more build our theology on the Golden Rule than we should build our astronomy on "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

This great truth is a principle that ought to govern our attitudes toward others. It only applies to believers, and it must be practiced in every area of life. The person who practices the Golden Rule refuses to say or do anything that would harm himself or others. If our judging of others is not governed by this principle, we will become proud and critical, and our own spiritual character will degenerate.

Practicing the Golden Rule releases the love of God in our lives and enables us to help others, even those who want to hurt us. But remember that practicing the Golden Rule means paying a price. If we want God's best for ourselves and others, but others resist God's will, then they will oppose us. We are salt, and salt stings the open wound. We are light, and light exposes dirt.


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Thursday – 31st January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7:13-20

The basis for judging Matt 7:13-20. Since there are false prophets in the world, we must be careful of deception. But the greatest danger is self-deception. The scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing that they were righteous and others were sinful. It is possible for people to know the right language, believe intellectually the right doc trines, obey the right rules, and still not be saved. Jesus used two pictures to help us judge ourselves and others.

The two ways Matt 7:13-14 are, of course, the way to heaven and the way to hell. The broad way is the easy way; it is the popular way. But we must not judge spiritual profession by statistics; the majority is not always right.

Quite the contrary is true: God's people have always been a remnant, a small minority in this world. The reason is not difficult to discover: The way of life is narrow, lonely and costly.  We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness.  But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things.

Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything?  If not, then it was not a true profession.  Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations.  They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them.  Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard.  We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time.

The Two trees Matt 7:15-20 show that true faith in Christ changes the life and produces fruit for God’s glory.  Everything in nature reproduces after its kinds, and this is also true in the spiritual realm.  Good fruit comes from a good tree but bad fruit comes from a bad tree.  The tree that produces rotten fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “Wherefore, by their fruits you shall know them” Matt 7:20.

The second test is this: Did my decision for Christ change my life?  False prophets who teach false doctrine can produce only a false righteousness. See Act 20:29

Their fruit (the result of their ministry) is false and cannot last.  The prophet themselves are false: the closer we get to them, the more we see the falsity of their lives and doctrines.  They magnify themselves, not Jesus Christ: and their purpose is to exploit people.  Not to edify them.  The person who believes false doctrine, or who follow a false prophet, will never experience a changed life.  Unfortunately, some people do not realize this until it is too late.


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Friday - 1st February
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7:21-29

God’s Judgment of us Matt 7:21-29

Even picturing two ways and two trees, our Lord closed His message by picturing two builders and their houses.  The two ways illustrate the start of the life of faith, the two trees illustrated the growth and results of the life of faith here and now: and the gate that leads to the broad way, making it easy for people to enter.
But at the end of the way, there is destruction.  The final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think.

The final test is:

What will God say?   
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How can we prepare for this judgment? By doing God's will. Obedi­ence to His will is the test of true faith in Christ. The test is not words, not saying" Lord, Lord," and not obeying His commands. How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and reli­gious songs, and yet not obey God's will. When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within Rom 8:9; and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father's will. God's love in his heart Rom 5:5 motivates him to obey God and serve others.

Words are not a substitute for obedience, and neither are religious works. Preaching, casting out demons, and performing miracles can be divinely inspired, but they give no assurance of salvation. It is likely that even Judas participated in some or all of these activities, and yet he was not a true believer. In the last days, Satan will use "lying wonders" to deceive people 2 Thes 2:7-12.

We are to hear God's words and do them see James I :22-25. We must not stop with only hearing (or studying) His words. Our hearing must result in doing. This is what it means to build on the rock foundation. We should not confuse this symbol with the "rock" in 1 Corinthians 3:9ff. Paul founded the local church in Corinth on Jesus Christ when he preached the Gospel and won people to Christ. This is the only foundation for a local church.

The foundation in this parable is obedience to God's Word -obedi­ence that is an evidence of true faith James 2:l4ff. The two men in this story had much in common. Both had desires to build a house. Both built houses that looked good and sturdy. But when the judgment came (the storm), one of the houses collapsed. What was the difference? .Not the mere external looks, to be sure. The difference was in the foundation: The successful builder "dug deep" Luke 6:48 and set his house on a solid foundation.


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Saturday – 2nd  February
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew 7 Again

A false profession will last until judgment comes. Sometimes .this judgment is in the form of the trials of life. Like the person who received the seed of God's Word into a shallow heart Matt 13:4-9, the commitment fails when the testing comes.

Many people have professed faith in Christ, only to deny their faith when life becomes spiritually costly and difficult.

But the judgment illustrated here probably refers to the final judgment before God. We must not read into this parable all the doctrine that we are taught in the Epistles; for the Lord was illustrating one main point: profession will ultimately be tested before God. Those who have trusted Christ, and have proved their faith by their obedience will have nothing to fear. Their house is founded on the Rock, and it will stand. But those who have professed to trust Christ, yet who have not obeyed God's will, will he condemned.

How shall we test our profession of faith? By popularity? No, for there are many on the broad road to destruction. And there are many who are depending on words, saying "Lord, Lord"-but this is no assurance of salvation. Even religious activities in a church organization are no assurance  How then shall we judge ourselves and others who profess Christ as Saviour?

The two ways tell us to examine the cost of our profession. Have we paid a price to profess faith in Christ? The two trees tell us to investigate whether our lives have really changed. Are there godly fruits from our lives? And the two houses remind us that true faith in Christ will last, not only in the storms of life, but also in the final judgment.

The congregation was astonished at this sermon. Why? Because Jesus spoke with divine authority. The scribes and Pharisees spoke "from authorities," always quoting the various rabbis and experts of the law. Jesus needed no human teacher to add authority to His words; for He spoke as the Son of God. We cannot lightly dismiss this sermon, for it is God who gave it to us! We must either bow before Him and submit to His authority, or we will be condemned.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Sunday Re Cap (20th Jan 2013)


THE ROOTS OF OUR FAITH, The People of the Book
Text: John 6:60-68


I. THE ROOTS OF OUR FAITH

A. Roots (Eph 3:5-6)
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

·         Who are your (spiritual) parents? CONNECTION to ROOTS?
·         Do you know your spiritual heritage?

B. Our Spiritual Heritage (Gal 3:26-29)
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

C. Ingrafted Branches (Rom 11:11-24)
Salvation as well came through the Jewish people
Natural branches - The Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua
Ingrafted - The Gentile believers in Messiah Yeshua

II. THE PEOPLE

Deut 7:6

A. Abram, the Hebrew (Gen 14:13)

Hebrew (ayber) the one who crossed over (Sanctified)

·         Abram crossed over to the other side of idolatry (foreigner to idolatry)

B.  The Jews (from Judah), God’s Chosen People (Deut 7:6)

·         It is not about a supreme race but a supreme God. ONE RACE ONLY!
·         It is not about supreme blood but the blood of the lamb

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
Ps 103:7
                A. The Torah, God’s Instructions (Lev 10:10-11)

You must distinguish between the holy and the common (profane), between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach (Torah) the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.” (Leviticus 10:10-11)

·         Torah: (Law is poor translation). Instruction, to teach, to guide, His Ways
·         Hebrew Nation was the Chosen People by God for Divine Revelation
·         Managers/Stewards of His Word/Revelation
The Bible confronts us, convicts us, and comforts us all at the same time.
Do you live by the book? The followers of God’s Instructions are known as People of the Book

Without vision a people perish. Where there is no Divine revelation people cast of restraint and perish. (Prov 29:18) Disregard for God’s Ways

i. Of the Book (Rom 10:8-14) “I am born of the book!”

                          ii. In the Book (2 Tim 2:15)
“If I am of the Book I need to be in the Book!”

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Ti 2:15 KJV).

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Ti 2:15 NIV)

PRDS,  Pardes (PaRaDiSe) The Four Levels of Study in Hebrew Culture
The Study of God’s Instruction is like the Garden of Paradise

The world is searching for paradise and overlook its person!

1. P’shat: Literal, The basic meaning of the text (surface level)

2. Remez: The Hint, wherein a word, phrase or other element in the text hints at a truth not conveyed by the p˒shat.

3. D’rash: The Moral of the Story

The ethical message, the inspiration for more refined behavior

4. Sod: The Secret (Mystery)

The pursuit of the deepest spiritual ideas and most sublime revelation.
*We are designed for uncovering the Mysterious  (To reveal the hidden)

                        iii. By the Book  (Matt 4:4)
“If I am of the Book and in the Book, I will live by the Book!”

Matt 4:4
               
Piers Morgan, “The Bible was well-intentioned, but it is basically inherently flawed,” Morgan said.  “Hence the need to amend it.”

“My point to you about gay rights, for example, it's time for an amendment to the Bible,” he said.

·         The Bible does not contradict itself but only the reader

B. The Ten Utterances of God (Exodus 20)
The Living Ten Words/Commandments, Decalogue

i. His Ways Observed & Obeyed (Deut 6:1-9) Moses said,

·         Observed (to preserve, keep from spoiling)
·         The Jewish nation was entrusted with God’s Word…to be stewards of God’s Expression to the world!!

C. His Ways are made known through Messiah (John 14:6)

·         God made covenant with Abraham, the First Testament. He made the everlasting covenant with us through His Son.
·         Jesus was greater than Moses. The culmination of the divine revelation came through Messiah, The Word.

 (John 14:5-7)

Our Response:  AS SPIRITUAL HEBREWS (Cross Over)

Part 1: “To Know Him & To Make Him Known”

Part 2: “To Know His Ways & To Make His Ways Known”

        (Ps 67:1-3)   

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Daily Bible Commentary (21st-26th Jan)


Monday - 21st January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6

The true righteousness of the kingdom must be applied in the everyday activities of life. This is the emphasis in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus related this principle to our relationship to God in worship (6:1-18), our relationship to material things (6:19-34), and our relationship to other people (7:1-20).
Jesus also warned about the danger of hypocrisy (6:2, 5, 16), the sin of using religion to cover up sin. A hypocrite is not a person who falls short of his high ideals, or who occasionally sins, because all of us experience these failures. A hypocrite deliberately uses religion to cover up his sins and promote his own gains. The Greek word translated hypocrite originally meant "an actor who wears a mask."
The righteousness of the Pharisees was insincere and dishonest. They practiced their religion for the applause of men, not for the reward of God. But true righteousness must come from within. We should test ourselves to see whether we are sincere and honest in our Christian commitment. In this chapter, Christ applied this test to four different areas of life.
Our Giving (6:1-4)
Giving alms to the poor, praying, and fasting were important disciplines in the religion of the Pharisees. Jesus did not condemn these practices, but He did caution us to make sure that our hearts are right as we practice them. The Pharisees used almsgiving to gain favor with God and attention from men, both of which were wrong motives. No amount of giving can purchase salvation; for salvation is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9) And to live for the praise of men is a foolish thing because the glory of man does not last (1 Peter 1:24). It is the glory and praise of God that really counts!
Our sinful nature is so subtle that it can defile even a good thing like sharing with the poor. If our motive is to get the praise-of men, then like the Pharisees, we will call attention to what we are doing. But if our motive is to serve God in love and please Him, then we will give our gifts without calling attention to them. As a result, we will grow spiritually; God will be glorified; and others will be helped. But if we give with the wrong motive, we rob ourselves of blessing and reward and rob God of glory, even though the money we share might help a needy person.
Does this mean that it is wrong to give openly? Must all giving be anonymous? Not necessarily, for everyone in the early church knew that Barnabas had given the income from the sale of his land (Acts 4:34-37). When the church members laid their money at the Apostles' feet, it was not done in secret. The difference, of course, was in the motive and manner in which it was done. A contrast is Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-1 1), who tried to use their gift to make people think they were more spiritual than they really were.
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Tuesday – 22nd January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6: 1-15

Our Praying (6:5-15)
Jesus gave four instructions to guide us in our praying.

We must pray in secret before we pray in public (6:6)
It is not wrong to pray in public in the assembly (1 Tim. 2:1 ff), or even when blessing food (John 6: I I ) or seeking God's help (John 1 1:41-42;  Acts 27:35). But it is wrong to pray in public if we are not in the habit of praying in private. Observers may think that we are practicing prayer when we are not, and this is hypocrisy. The word translated closet means "a private chamber." It could refer to the store-chamber in a house. Our Lord prayed privately (Mark 1:35); so did Elisha (2 Kings 4:32ff) and Daniel (Dan. 6:10ff).
We must pray sincerely (6:7-8)
The fact that a request is repeated does not make it a "vain repetition"; for both Jesus and Paul repeated their
petitions (Matt. 26:36-46; 2 Cor. 12:7-8). A request becomes a "vain repetition" if it is only a babbling of words without a sincere heart desire
to seek and do God's will. The mere reciting of memorized prayers can be vain repetition. The Gentiles had such prayers in their pagan ceremonies (see 1 Kings 18:26).
Dr. Robert A. Cook has often said, "All of us have one routine prayer in our system; and once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray!" I have noticed this, not only in my own praying, but often when I have conducted prayer meetings. With some people, praying is like putting the needle on a phonograph record and then forgetting about it. But God does not answer insincere prayers.
We must pray in God's will (6:9-13)
This prayer is known familiarly as "The Lord's Prayer," but "The Disciples' Prayer" would be a more accurate title. Jesus did not give this prayer to us to be memorized and recited a given number of times. In fact, He gave this prayer to keep us from using vain repetitions. Jesus did not say, "Pray in these words." He said, "Pray after this manner"; that is, "Use this prayer as a pattern not as a substitute."

The purpose of prayer is to glorify God's name, and to ask for help to accomplish His will on earth. This prayer begins with God's interests, not ours: God's name, God's kingdom, and God's will. Robert Law has said, "Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man's will done in heaven, but for getting God's will done in earth." We have no right to ask God for anything that will dishonor His name, delay His kingdom, or disturb His will on earth. 
It is worth noting that there are no singular pronouns in this prayer; they are all plural. It begins with "OUR Father." When we pray, we must remember that we are part of God's worldwide family of believers. We have no right to ask for ourselves anything that would harm another member of the family. If we are praying in the will of God, the answer will be a blessing to all of God's people in one way or another.
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Wednesday – 23rd January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6: 1-15 again

If we put God's concerns first, then we can bring our own needs. God is concerned about our needs and knows theca even before we mention them (v. 8). If this is the case, then why pray? Because prayer is the God appointed way to have these needs met (see James 4:1-3). Prayer prepares us for the proper use of the answer. If we know our need, and if we voice it to God, trusting Him for His provision, then we will make better use of the answer than if God forced it on us without our asking.
It is right to pray for daily physical needs, for forgiveness, and for guidance and protection from evil. "Lead us not into temptation" does not mean that God tempts His children (James 1:13-17). In this petition we are asking God to guide us so that we will not get out of His will and get involved in a situation of temptation (1 John 5:18), or even in a situation of tempting God so that He must miraculously rescue us (Matt. 4:5-7)
We must pray, having a forgiving spirit toward others (6:14-15). In this "appendix" to the prayer, Jesus expanded the last phrase of verse 12, “……..as we forgive our debtors." He later repeated this lesson to His disciples (Mark 11: 19-26). He was not teaching that believers earned God's forgiveness by forgiving others; for this would be contrary to God's free grace hand mercy. However, if we have truly experienced God's forgiveness, then we will have a readiness to forgive others (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Our Lord illustrated this principle in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:21-35).
We have seen that true praying is a "family affair"  ("Our Father. . ."). If the members of the family are not getting along with one another, how can they claim to have a right relationship with the Father?
The emphasis in 1 John 4 is that we show our love for God by loving our brothers. When we forgive each other, we are not earning the right to prayer; for the privilege of prayer is a part of our sonship (Rom. 8:15-16). Forgiveness belongs to the matter of fellowship: If I am not in fellowship with God, I cannot pray effectively. But fellowship with my brother helps to determine my fellowship with God; hence, forgiveness is important to prayer.
Since prayer involves glorifying God's name, hastening the coming of God's kingdom (2 Peter 3:12), and helping to accomplish God's will on earth, the one praying must not have sin in his heart. If God answered the prayers of a believer who had an unforgiving spirit, He would dishonor His own name. How could God work through such a person to get His will done on earth? If God gave him his requests, He would be encouraging sin! The important thing about prayer is not simply getting an answer, but being the kind of person whom God can trust with an answer.
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Thursday – 24th January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6: 16-18

Our Fasting (6:16-18)
The only fast that God actually required of the Jewish people was on the annual Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27). The Pharisees fasted each Monday and Thursday (Luke 18:12) and did so in such a way that people knew they were fasting. Their purpose, of course, was to win the praise of men. As a result, the Pharisees lost God's blessing.
It is not wrong to fast, if we do it in the right way and with the right motive. Jesus fasted (Matt. 4:3); so did the members of the early church (Acts 13:2). Fasting helps to discipline the appetites of the body (Luke 21:34) and keep our spiritual priorities straight. But fasting must never become an opportunity for temptation (1 Cor. 7:7). Simply to deprive ourselves of a natural benefit (such as food or sleep) is not of itself fasting. We must devote ourselves to God and worship Him. Unless there is the devotion of the heart (see Zech. 7) there is no lasting spiritual benefit.
 As with giving and praying, true fasting must be done in secret; it is between the believer and God unless it is a corporate fast called by the church or nation. To "make unsightly" our faces (by looking glum and asking for pity and praise) would be to destroy the very purpose of the fast. Our Lord here laid down a basic principle of spiritual living: Nothing that is truly spiritual will violate that which God has given us in nature. God usually does not tear down one good thing in order to build up another. If we have to look miserable to be considered spiritual, then there is something wrong with our views of spirituality.
Remember that hypocrisy robs us of reality in Christian living. We substitute reputation for character, mere words for true prayer, money for the devotion of the heart. No wonder Jesus compared the Pharisees to tombs that were whitewashed on the outside, but filthy on the inside! (Matt. 23:27-28)
But hypocrisy not only robs us of character, it also robs us of spiritual rewards. Instead of the eternal approval of God, we receive the shallow praise of men. We pray, but there are no answers. We fast, but the inner man shows no improvement. The spiritual life becomes hollow and lifeless. We miss the blessing of God here and now and also lose the reward of God when Christ returns.
Hypocrisy also robs us of spiritual influence. The Pharisees were a negative influence; whatever they touched was defiled and destroyed. The people who admired them and obeyed the Pharisees' words thought they themselves were being helped, when in reality, they were being hurt.
The first step toward overcoming hypocrisy is to be honest with God in our secret life. We must never pray anything that we do not mean from the heart; otherwise, our prayers are simply empty words. Our motive must be to please God alone, no matter what men may say or do. We must cultivate the heart in the secret place. It has well been said, "The most important part of a Christian's life is the part that only God sees." When reputation becomes more important than character, we have become hypocrites.
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Friday – 25th January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6: 19-34

Our Use of Wealth (6:19-24)
We are accustomed to divide life into the "spiritual" and the "material"; but Jesus made no such division. In many of His parables, He made it clear that a right attitude toward wealth is a mark of true spirituality (see Luke 12:13ff; 16:1-31). The Pharisees were covetous (v. 14) and used religion to make money. If we have the true righteousness of Christ in our lives, then we will have a proper attitude toward material wealth.
Nowhere did Jesus magnify poverty or criticize the legitimate getting of wealth. God made all things, including food, clothing, and precious metals. God has declared that all things He has made are good (Gen. 1:31). God knows that we need certain things in order to live (Matt. 4:32). In fact, He has given us "richly all things to enjoy" (1 Tim. 6:17). It is not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong for things to possess us. The sin of idolatry is as dangerous as the sin of hypocrisy! There are many warnings in the Bible against covetousness (Ex. 20:17; Ps. 119:36; Mark 7:22; Luke 12:15ff; Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5).
Jesus warned against the sin of living for the things of this life. He pointed out the sad consequences of covetousness and idolatry.
Enslavement (6:19-24). Materialism will enslave the heart (vv. 19-21), the mind (vv. 22-23), and the will (v. 24). We can become shackled by the material things of life, but we ought to be liberated and controlled by the Spirit of God.
If the heart loves material things, and puts earthly gain above heavenly investments, then the result can only be a tragic loss. The treasures of earth may be used for God. But if we gather material things for ourselves, we will lose them; and we will lose our hearts with them. Instead of spiritual enrichment, we will experience impoverishment.
What does it mean to lay up treasures in heaven? It means to use all that we have for the glory of God. It means to "hang loose" when it comes to the material things of life. It also means measuring life by the true riches of the kingdom and not by the false riches of this world. Wealth not only enslaves the heart, but it also enslaves the mind (vv. 22-23). God's Word often uses the eye to represent the attitudes of the mind. If the eye is properly focused on the light, the body can function properly in its movements. But if the eye is out of focus and seeing double, it results in unsteady movements. It is most difficult to make progress while trying to look in two directions at the same time.
If our aim in life is to get material gain, it will mean darkness within. But if our outlook is to serve and glorify God, there will be light within. If what should be light is really darkness, then we are being controlled by darkness; and outlook determines outcome.
 Finally, materialism can enslave the will (v. 24). We cannot serve two masters simultaneously. Either Jesus Christ is our Lord, or money is our Lord. It is a matter of the will. "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare . . . " (1 Tim. 6:9). If God grants riches, and we use them for His glory, then riches are a blessing. But if we will to get rich, and live with that outlook, we will pay a great price for those riches.
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Saturday – 26th January
Topic: The King’s Principals
Read: Matthew Chapter 6: 25-33

Devaluation (6:25-30). Covetousness will not only cheapen our riches, but it will also cheapen us! We will start to become worried and anxious, and this anxiety is unnatural and unspiritual. The person who pursues money thinks that riches will solve his problems, when in reality, riches will create more problems! Material wealth gives a dangerous, false sense of security, and that feeling ends in tragedy. The birds and lilies do not fret and worry; yet they have God's wealth in ways that man cannot duplicate. All of nature depends on God, and God never fails. Only mortal man depends on money, and money always fails.
Jesus said that worry is sinful. We may dignify worry by calling it by some other name—concern, burden, a cross to bear—but the results are still the same. Instead of helping us live longer, anxiety only makes life shorter (v. 27). The Greek word translated ‘take no thought’ literally means "to be drawn in different directions." Worry pulls us apart. Until man interferes, everything in nature works together, because all of nature trusts God. Man, however, is pulled apart because he tries to live his own life by depending on material wealth.
God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. He will feed and clothe us. It is our "little faith" that hinders Him from working as He would. He has great blessings for us if only we will yield to Him and live for the riches that last forever.
Loss of testimony (6:31-33). To worry about material things is to live like the heathen! If we put God 's will and God ‘s righteousness first in our lives , He will take care of everything else, What a testimony it is to the world when a Christian dares to practice Matthew 6:33! What a tragedy it is when so many of us fail to practice it.
Loss of joy today (6:34).  Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today.  If anything, it robs us of our effectiveness today which means we will be even less effective tomorrow. Someone has said that the average person is crucifying himself between two thieves: the regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow. It is right to plan for the future and even to save for the future (2 Cor, 12:14; I Tim, 5:8).  But it is a sin to worry about the future and permit tomorrow to rob today of its blessings.
Three words in this section point the way to victory over worry: faith (v. 30), trusting God to meet our needs; (2) Father (v. 32), knowing He cares for His children; and (3) first (v. 33), putting God‘s will first in our lives so that He might be glorified.  If we have faith in our Father and put Him first, He will meet our needs.
Hypocrisy and anxiety are sins.  If we practice the true righteousness of the kingdom, we will avoid these sins and live for God's glory.