St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 16 - 17, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 1. 

Christ has just finished telling the crowd about the greatness of John the Baptist.  He called to the crowd saying,  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "   For he told the crowd that if they can receive it, John the Baptist was Elias who was to come.  It was written in the scriptures that Elias would come again before the Messiah.  And now Christ is reminding the crowd of what was written has come to pass.  But he stops there to talk about the people of this generation.

He says,  "But to what shall I liken this generation?"   He asked, what can he compare this generation to that the people might understand.  The scriptures have spoken of this time.  John came and spoke of this time, but the people do not believe.  They do not hear, they do not read, they do not believe.  They are worse than unbelievers, because in the face of all the evidence they still do not believe what is right before their eyes.  You see, this is a selfish generation.  They want things to happen their way.  And if it does not come, the way that they expect, then they will not turn, they will not understand, they will not see, they will not comprehend, and they will not believe.

Christ compared them to children playing in the market who want everything to follow their plan. Christ says,  "It is like children sitting in the market place, who call to their companions, and say, 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have sung dirges, and you have not mourned.' "   This generation is selfish.  They want everything to go according to their plans.  They have played songs and no one has danced.  They have sung dirges and no one has come forth to play funeral with them.  They want everyone to dance their tune and sing to their tribulations.

Will we be the same generation when Christ returns?  For different from those years, we live in a selfish environment.  Everything is about us.  We want more money for us.  We want more cars for us.  We want more house for us.  We want more clothes for us.  We want everything for us and do not consider others.  We want to succeed in this world and to succeed, the world tells us that we have to look out for number one, ourselves. 

For who is going to provide for us if we do not provide for ourselves.  We are raised on the principle that makes us believe that we must be selfish.  It is a cold world out there and if you do not look out for yourself no one else will.  You will be used and abused by the world if you do not provide for yourself, is the principle that we believe.  Yet Christ came and died for all, because we could not save ourselves. 

Are you a selfish person?  Do you have to have things your way?  Must the world dance for you and cry for you when you want it to?  Come, let us not be of that generation that is selfish.  Let us turn our hearts to God and love each other as we love ourselves.  Let us open our minds and open our hearts and open our eyes to see that we are all children of God, created in his image no matter what color, what shape, what hair, what eyes, what background, what income, what ever we use to categorize ourselves that we may segregate and make comparisons.  God is our father and we are his children.  We are all his creations, children of light.  So let us love one another as he loves us.  We are spiritual beings in a physical body that is dying before our eyes.  What we see before us is not who we are, and who we are today is not who we will be in heaven.  Put off the cloak of selfishness and put on the cloak of love and you will understand who you really are.  

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 36-37, Who is worthy to fight?

Our paragraph topic is:  (We must give up all for Christ) Part 3.  

The battle will come.  The war has begun and Christ has issued his decree.  The disciples are his generals and they will carry the banners into battle.  Repent!  Turn back to the one true God.  This is their message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  For they are the first ones.  They are on the front lines of the battle.  The war will come to their front door.  The war will enter their households.  The war will divide their families.  The war will tear asunder the bonds of the heart.  For Christ has not sent peace.  He has brought the sword of God upon the people and the the demons of the evil one.

Christ says,  "And a man's enemies will be those of his own household."  The enemy has taken a foothold in the minds and hearts of the lost sheep.  He is entrenched in the lives of the people and will not retreat.  His goal is to capture the souls of the people and take them to hell.  Even the children will be separated from their parents.  Daughers separated from mothers and sons from fathers.  Some will accept the message of the kingdom.  Some will not.  And Satan will be the victor over those souls that do not repent, even in the homes of the believers.  For the ties that bind families, the ties that bind brothers, the ties that bind sisters, and parents, and children, and husbands, and relatives will be broken.  Some will go one way and some will go another.  And those who are able to keep their family bonds and fight the battle they will be the victors over evil. 

For Christ has said,  "He who loves father or mother more than me is  not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."  He who is afraid to break the bonds is not worthy to fight.  And he who allows the love of family to sway them against Christ is not worthy.  Christ ask for your alliegance, he ask for your trust, he asks for your love.  Be worthy.  Be loving.  Be trusting.  Aliegn yourself with the true side of light in the life of Christ.  Give not partially.  Give to the Lord totally and you will be rewarded.  He is worthy of leadership.  He is worthy of your love.  He is truthful to the end and the battle will go on.

Stand on the right side of the Lord and he will stand with you.  Trust in the leadership of the Lord and he will lead you to glory and righteousness.  Believe in the love that Christ bears for you and you will know peace.  Let nothing stand in your way. Throw off the bonds of the world that would hold you in boundage.  See the tricks of the enemy and bypass the boobytraps set to destroy you.  Let not the family ties bind you to destruction.  Be a warrior.  Be a soldier.  Be a disciple for Christ and join the battle for the kingdom of heaven.  Are you worthy?  Will your mother or father turn you around because they do not believe?  Will the comments and stabs of your children keep you from the kingdom?  Stand fast!  Trust in the Lord and you will be the victor!!  Be a worthy warrior!!