Matthew 12
Matthew 12:43-45 – When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
1. Freedom is joyous. When you’re delivered or freed from an evil spirit or habit (i.e. pornography, smoking, drinking, etc.), you feel a great freedom and peace. The thoughts in your mind is silenced and your heart is happy. You’re full of peace and joy.
Genesis 2:1-2 – Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
After creating the heavens and the earth, God ended his work and rested on the seventh day. He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it for He rested all all His work.
Typically, when we speak of resting on the seventh day, many automatically go to the Sabbath in the Law of Moses and take a side for or against (as we are no longer under the Law of Moses). However, if we read Genesis, God sanctified the seventh day of rest long before the giving of His commandments to the people of Israel. The blessing of the seventh day was incorporated in the beginning.
Matthew 12:36-37 – But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
In Matthew 12:22-37, Jesus healed a demon-possessed man and the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devil through the power of Beelzebub (read Matthew 12:22-37 for context). Through this dialogue, Jesus illustrates what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, and how we will be give an account of the negative things we say. Think about the negative and useless things you’ve said over the last week. On the day of judgment, you will stand before the Lord and give an account of each of those words. Not only that, but it is by our words that we will be justified or condemned.
In the original translation, the word idle is translated as inactive, lazy, useless, barren, and slow. When writing to the church in Ephesians, Paul admonished the church to use their words for edifying others:
Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
We can say many things about many situations each day. Some situations ‘scream’ for you to say something negative or in anger. However, allow the words you speak to build others up rather than tear them down. If you don’t have anything kind to say, don’t say anything.
Remember that the idle words you speak will come back to you when you will stand before the Lord. You will have to account for them. Do not allow the idle words you speak to condemn yo before God. Speak life!
Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG.com/BJN
Why do I always have to go through trials and temptation? I don’t want to continue facing the same things over and over and over AND OVER again! I just want to be free.
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like the Apostle Paul when he said that when he wants to do right, sin is right there (Romans 7:21)? OR the things you want to do you don’t do, but the things you don’t want to do, THAT you find yourself doing (Romans 7:15)? Many of us can relate to Paul’s statements of temptation and sin, but we often stop there without going any further. We continue to live in a cycle that goes from temptation-sin-repentance-temptation-sin-repentance and it never seems to stop. We want to get off the merry-go-round, but it doesn’t seem like we ever can. Why do I have to go through this? Why can’t God just take it away because He knows I want to serve Him. If I didn’t have this ‘sin’ issue, I could just run for Him.
Matthew 7:15-20 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
1. Many false prophets (and teachers) dwell among our congregations. Most people would probably be surprised because they think they could recognize these individuals easily. The goal of a false prophet is to be among the people without being identified in order to spread their message.
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