St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 26b; In the Chamber.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of the last day) Part 7.  

He has given us all the signs and signals to look for at the end of days.  We know what to expect.  It is written for those who seek.  Do not be fooled by the fake shows that we see today that may appear real.  There will be many that will lead us astray.  He has told us so.  He has given us all the knowledge that we need to survive the deception that will come.  

Christ tells us in his own words, handed down through the disciples, what to expect.  Do not be deceived, he tells us.  Do not be misled.  They will tell you that he is in the desert, do not go there.  They will say to you: " 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' do not believe it."  We Know how he will come.  We know how he will appear.  We know how he has told us that he will come on a cloud with his angels for all to see.  So, it is not for us to rush to judgment to see him when we know that he will appear for all to see and not in some place for only a few to see.

We are his children, and he is our Lord and Savior.  From him and through him and with him we have our life, eternal.  We are one with him as he is one with the Father.  For those who love him life without him is meaningless.  He is the source of all our happiness, all our joy, all our peace, all our grace.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all that you have given us.  

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 34; The Pharisees gather.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The great commandment) Part 1.  

They, the Sadducees, could not silence him.  They tried several times and did not succeed.  They were silenced in front of the crowds and the crowds marveled at the wisdom of Christ.  The people were not educated.  They received their wisdom from those who came from the temple and the synagogue.  They were not learned.  They were not learned in the Law or the Torah.  They were simple farmers who worked the land for a living.  So they received all their knowledge from those who were trained and educated from the temple.

Christ was not trained in the temple.  He was not taught by the those educated by the masters of the Law and the Torah.  Yet he came and taught the people about the love of God and the ways of God.  He brought miracles and healed many.  The people had not seen such or heard such before.  Such a man of God or prophet had not existed.  Yet here was Christ in their mist and they listened, and they heard, and they saw, and they believed.  The Sadducees were silenced.  But the Pharisees, hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered together. 

Now they knew that he was a threat to them.  They knew that he had to be silenced once and for all.  Christ had come and tore through the half of legal body of the law and made a mockery of it, so now it was time for the other half to come together and create a serious plan to stop him.  They did not consider that he was the Messiah.  They did not stop to think that he was the Son of Man come down from heaven to walk among the people to teach and preach.  They only knew that their authority was challenged.  I wonder if it will be the same in our time.

There are those who know and those who do not.  There are those who want to know and those who do not want to know.  And then there are those who walk the line not knowing and those who question the line asking themselves if this is all there is to life.  These are the ones who seek to find more, the ones who want to know more, the ones who are ready to have their eyes opened or who are opened to the suggestion of deception, and death.

Those who know walk in two worlds.  They straddle the worlds of life and death.  The church gives life and the world gives death.  Yet we must find a way to live in both.  Christ dealt with the death of the world he lived in, we struggle with the same.  We are given his commandments to live by the best we can yet, we live in a world that disregards those commandments.  The Holy Spirit is our guide to lead us along the path of life helping us to avoid the pitfalls that may lead to our downfall.  And the church is our sanctuary in times of struggle and need.  Ultimately prayer to God our Father is our call in times of need and patience and belief in his answer is our assurance in his love for us.  We are his children and he is our beloved father.  Call on him.   

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse:26; The Dilemma of the Question.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The authority of Jesus) Part 6. 

They were befuddled, not knowing how to respond.  One person believed that they should say this, another person said that they should say that.  There was no consensus among them as to how to answer the question asked by Christ.  They heard of his wisdom.  They knew of his insight from others who had spoken to him or tried to capture him in a falsehood.  So they gathered together to determine the best answer to give.

Jesus knew their uncertainty.  He knew of their plot.  He foresaw their scheme to trick him to answer their question.  But they did not foresee that he would pose a question in response.  So they argued among themselves:  saying, “If we say, ' From heaven,' he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, ' From men,' we fear the people, for all regard John as a prophet." 

And so it was that they came to an impasse.  They did not know how to respond.  They were befuddled and without answer.  How do you respond to such a question?  How do you say things one way so as not convict yourself?  Our minds work with lightening speed to give us answers.  But will the answer free us from harm?  If that is the case of where you would like to be, then you are practiced in the art of deception.  For we deceive ourselves when we give way to the influences of what comes to our minds in the way of deceit.

Do we intend to deceive?  Do we intend to lie?  Do we intend to sway others to think differently of ourselves, contrary to the real us?  Do we intend to exercise power over others to lead them along a path of our beliefs?  And who leads us in such a direction?  Are we led by fear, anger, hatred, disgust, pity, sympathy, love, care, understanding or wisdom.  Or are we led by the influence of evil. 

Our Father gave to us the joy of life.  He gave to us a life similar to his own spirit.  He is love.  He is joy.  He is peace.  He is merciful, and forgiving, and understanding, and truth.  It is his truth that guides us through life.  It is his knowledge and wisdom that sets us on a path that will change our entire destiny of who we are and who we will become not who we were in the past.  We are his children.  He is our loving Father.  He provides.  He protects.  He guides.  He directs.  And when the time here on this plane of existence ends, we rejoice in our transition to spend eternity with him.  Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die.  And yet it is in death that we escape from this plane and enter into his realm. 

Peace be with you.  The knowledge of who you are awaits your coming.  The reward of heaven awaits your acknowledgement.  The struggle of this existence will concede to you when you accept who you are and rejoice in the life that is within you.  Come!  The Spirit awaits your awakening.  It awaits your rising up from the slumber of this world and your embracing that for which you are.  Christ loves you.  The Father loves you.  The Holy Spirit feeds you and you will live.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 

ST Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 38 - 39, The Pharisees request for a sign.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 1. 

The Pharisees have heard the words of Christ.  They have considered the consequences of their actions and have hesitated in their speech.  They have considered the judgment that they may bring upon themselves through their words.  So they speak with caution.  They speak with consideration.  They speak with understanding of their actions.  And the demons that possess them, counsel them to ask a question.  The demons counsel them to seek to reach within Christ to prove their designs.  So they ask a question.   And St Matthew tells us,  Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from thee."

So out of deception they asked for a sign to prove that he was the Messiah.  They asked for a sign to show that Christ had the authority to speak over them.  They asked for a sign to demonstrate that Christ was the anointed one and all that he had spoken to them is indeed of truth.  It was of no concern to them who Christ was.  It was only their concern that he had spoken against their authority.  He had spoken against their power.  It was of concern to them that the people were following Christ and turning away from their rule.  But they did not know.  They did not understand.  They refused to accept that the kingdom of God had come upon them without their knowledge.  They did not believe.

So Christ answered and said to them,  "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, and no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet."   They were counseled by evil.  They were possessed of evil.  They had become the solders of Satan.  They were filled with darkness and Christ spoke to the darkness within them.  He called them by their fruit, evil and adulterous.  He spoke of their designs, the need for a sign when the sign was already known.  He spoke to their future, when the time wold come for them to know.  And the Pharisees did not understand.  They did not know.  They knew about the parable of Jonas and the whale.  They knew about the three days in the belly.  But they did not understand the meaning of the message.  For Christ had foretold that they would only know of who he was when the sign was revealed, the sign of being three days in the earth and rising again from the dead.

We have many today who do not know.  We have many today who do not believe.  We have many wise and scholarly men who look for signs, who need knowledge to believe.  Yet knowledge was given them by God and originates from God but they still do not believe.  And the scholars influence the masses of people who want to be just like them.  But God gives no sign.  For the sign has been given.  The sign has been foretold.  The sign has been written for all to see and believe.  Do you believe in the sign?  Do you believe in the words that have been spoken or are you just a partial believer who does just enough to get by?  Christ has given the signs.  Christ has given the wonders.  Do you seek to know?  Do you seek to have the knowledge?  Come, receive the sign and he will reveal all!

St Matthew, Chapte 11, verses: 4-6, The Scandal of John the Baptist.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The Baptist's deputation) Part 2. 

Now we know how scandal is spread, through the mouth of others.  Those who have been bitten by Scandal will desire to tell others of the news and thereby pass it on to others.  And the flame spreads, the flame of scandal.  Christ was able to see Scandal for what she is, a witch clothed in partial truths and lies.  And he saw it in the disciples of John the Baptist.  Christ knew that John did not doubt his origins.  John had baptized him and witnessed the heavens open and the descent of the Holy Spirit.  John knew Christ even when he was in his mothers womb, so how could he allow Scandal to take hold of him.  Yet his disciples wanted to regain their position.  They wanted the fame that they had when John preached in the Jordan and thousands came to see him from the surrounding territories.  They missed their main attraction.  

When the disciples approached under the guise of a question from John, Christ saw Scandal approaching.  They asked their question allowing Scandal to come forth doubting the origin of Christ.  But Christ closed the door and prevented Scandal from taking hold.  He told the disciples of John,  "Go and report to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them."   This was something that they already knew.  They had reported to John while he was in prison all the miracles that Christ performed.  They had stirred up this hatred for Christ and brought forth the doubt in their minds of his origins.  John listened to all of their issues until he could stand no more.  So he sent them to the one who would cancel their doubts.  He sent them to the one who would destroy their fears.  He sent them to the one who would lock Scandal in a prison and not allow her to run loose.  

You see, Scandal had to have a platform.  She had to run on the name of an authority.  She had to have someone of notoriety to pitch her claims.  And she used the disciples of John and the name of John the Baptist to start her campaign.  When she approached through the disciples of John Christ saw her coming.  He told the disciples to carry the message back to John, but he also told them, "Blessed is he who is not scandalized in me."   This is a better statement than cursed is he who scandalizes me.  For this is what the disciples of John sought to do by asking the question and allowing doubt and thereby Scandal, to come forth. 

Christ opened the door for the disciples of John to gain salvation.  He stopped Scandal from coming forth.  He offered the opportunity for the disciples of John to be blessed, a far better choice than Scandal offered.  Christ offers us the same choice today to be blessed.  Scandal wants you to be cursed.  Scandal wants to spread her rotten lies and deceits to destroy those who hear them.  She wants to pull down those who would be exalted and crush their dignity and character.  She wants to bring shame and dishonor.  She wants to destroy.  Her tools are the one thing that we use easily and most often, our mouth.  It is the one thing that speaks often without our having control, only because she has placed her web of lies within us to be passed on to others. 

Are you a disciple of Scandal?  Do you spread her lies and deceit at will, without hesitation or forethought?  She will destroy both you and the person with which she talks about.  She will shame you.  She will cause you pain.  Yet she tempts you with the momentary pleasure of having spoken her words to your satisfaction.  For in that moment she gives you a sense of power.  She allows you to think that you are in control when you scandalize others.  But this is only a temporary pleasure like taking a drug that gets you high for a moment and then brings you crashing down hard.  Do not allow yourself to become her tool.  Do not accept her false promise of power.  Beware of her deception and lies.  For just as she spreads them about others she will spread them about you also.  Christ said blessed is he who is not scandalized in him.  As a disciple of Christ and a believer, do not be cursed by Scandal.  Are you ready to stop Scandal from taking hold of you?  Be blessed in Christ!!