Wed. Feb. 8, 2012 It's the Law 2

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brothers will be subject to judgment."

Good Salvation Wednesday Evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Wednesday and the day we pray for the lost, and pray that God uses us who are saved to seek out the lost and bring them to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Please keep praying for Vicki, Ronald, Donna, Shelli, and Dolores.

It's the law 2: Matthew 5:21 - "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brothers will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, is answerable to the Sanhedrin,' but anyone who says 'You fool,' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift." (NIV)

Again I want to look into the examples that Jesus is setting here in these scriptures. Of course He is quoting one of the commandments that say, "Thou Shalt Not Murder," and of course we know He set an example of not doing that by His peaceful living and His teachings. But this scripture goes farther than that, He is telling us that we should not be angry with others... hmmm, we might be in trouble on this one, and He tells us that if we are angry with our brothers, and brothers here means our sisters also, that we will be subject to judgment. And of course Jesus is talking about judgment on us on judgment day. Raca according to my footnotes means empty or empty head.

I think we are being told here that we will be subject to two judgments. One, by our governments if we do wrong, and also judgment by God on judgment day. One thing for sure He is telling us that we cannot hold this anger against our brothers and sisters, and when Jesus talks about leaving our gift at the altar and going to reconcile with our brother, I feel what He, Jesus, is telling us that before we come to Him and even seek out forgiveness we need to take care of this other business.

Once again I am going to the Lord's prayer where it tells us "to forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" and if we go to God for forgiveness of our sins (debts, trespasses) and we have not forgiven others we are asking not to be forgiven. Yes, reread it if you need to. When Jesus is talking about leaving our gifts in front of the altar and going to make it right with our brothers, is He not telling us, something like this... Hey, Dan (using myself as an example), Hey, Dan, this is Jesus, before you come to Me, asking Me to forgive you, go and take care of business and then come back and talk to Me about your sins. I do pray you are following me on this one. I think sometimes we pastors, and notice I said we, and others try and make this coming to Christ and getting into heaven very easy. Confess and you will be saved, and while that is in the Bible, it does go much deeper than that... THAT IS WHY, when people do come to the altar and accept Christ as their Savior, they need a good church with a good pastor to follow up on their confessions and their salvation, and learn about things like this, you need to forgive to be forgiven, and we also need to work for the Lord. Ok, enough for today. Please take time to read your Bible. Today you should read Matthew 5:21/26. Again, I tell you, please follow up what I talk about with your Bible. That is a really good reason why you need to carry your own Bible to church, and a highlighter also.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for keeping Your hand on this line and thanks for talking to me about the messages, and please, Lord, I pray I am doing this right for You. Thanks for hearing our prayers, and Lord, if I am holding something against someone, please point it out to me. Help us, dear Lord,  to bring in the lost for You this day, and help us to remember we are workers for You, and we can only bring in the lost, we cannot save them. Help us all this day and as for our prayer requests, Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will be done. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Please keep praying for my hands, the right one for sure, for its healing is in God's hands. Now go forth and share your blessings and know that you folks are loved very much by Jesus, and yes, I love ya also. Pastor Dan.