SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/16/2022 11:11 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-4 “The Parable of the Householder:
Proclamation”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
13:51-52
Message of the verses: “51 “Have you
understood all these things?" They *said to Him, "Yes." 52 And
He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the
kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his
treasure things new and old.’”
We begin this SD with the words “brings forth” found
in verse 52. MacArthur writes that
brings forth “is from ekballo and
carries the idea of casting out, scattering or distributing widely. In this context is also connotes generosity,
giving out the truth of God both wisely and liberally. Apart from the Lord Himself, the apostles
were the supreme Bible scholars, preachers, teachers, and theologians of all
time—scribes and disciples without equal (cf. Matt. 11:11).” “"Truly I say to you, among those born
of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet
the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
MacArthur goes on to explain: “As is clear from the parables of the sower,
the wheat and tares, and the dragnet, the message of the gospel is not simply
the offer of heaven but a warning about hell.
What makes the gospel such good news is its power to save men from the
indescribably bad destiny toward which every person without Christ is
headed. A person does not have to choose
hell to go there. He only has to refuse
the claims of Jesus Christ—or do nothing at all.”
In
a similar way, however not to the same degree of authority, Jesus’ charge to
the Twelve is given to every believer, and in particular to those He has called
to teach and preach His Word. This is
speaking of Spiritual Gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each and every
believer in the Church in order to cause the Church to function in the way that
our Lord designed it to function. Now if
these gifts come from the Holy Spirit, and are used in His power then Jesus is
the One who will receive the honor and glory.
However if people are trying to do this on their own, then Christ will
not receive glory, and when the Judgment Seat of Christ takes place this will
only be wood, straw, and stubble given out.
The important thing for all believers is to be continually filled with
the Holy Spirit in order to do the things that we have been called to do in eternity
past: “For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that
we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
Believers knowing the truth that they know is an
awesome responsibility to warn the unsaved about hell and to offer them the way
of escape through our precious Lord. “Therefore,
knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;
and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences” (2 Cor. 5:11). MacArthur adds “The Christian’s heart is cold
indeed who is not deeply concerned and exercised about those around him who are
destined for the eternity of hell. To
have the gift of eternal life but not to share it with those who now have only
the prospect of eternal death is the epitome of selfishness and lovelessness.”
The
challenge to all believers is to tell others what will happen to them in what
we can describe as automatically, that is doing nothing to go to hell, and to
show them the truth in love, and not in judgment. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to do what He
is to do: 7 "But I tell you the
truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the
Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He,
when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to
the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of
this world has been judged” (John 16:7-11).
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: We have just been explained what we as believers
are to do, and we are to do it in love, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the
Lord to bring people into my lives in order to be able to tell them the truth
of the gospel, and so that the Spirit will bring conviction to them to change
their direction from automatically going to hell to go to heaven.
5/16/2022 11:47 AM
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