St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 25; I have told you.

 Our paragraph topic is: (The sign of the last day) Part 5.  

What does Christ say to us today?  Watch out!  Beware!  Look out for these things to happen!  Listen for the false prophets for they will attempt to mislead.  There will be great signs and wonders.  Great tribulations will occur causing fear and disbelief.  These things must happen, but they will not be the end of days.  They will only be the signs leading up to the end of days.

You will know when the end of days has come.  You will see the truth of what Christ has spoken. The things he has said will happen when the end of days comes.  Why? As he has said:  "Behold, I have told it to you beforehand."   

Indeed, the word has been spoken from the mouth of Christ Jesus who is the living word of God himself.  God the Father knows all, sees all.  He has given the words to Christ to speak in the world so that all will know the truth of what is to come.  Those who believe will have the knowledge of truth.  Those who do not will suffer the trials and tribulations of the world as it attempts to deal with and accept what is happening on the last day.

Faith is the foundation upon which our belief is built.  It is supported by the living word giving us by Christ.  The disciples as they lived their lives, spread the word throughout the land during their stay here on the earth.  They built up the foundation of the church that we reside in today.  But the church is just a physical structure wherein we live work, play, worship, and find our fellowship with each other in love and charity.  It is a spiritual, physical dwelling place for our physical beings just as our physical bodies are a physical dwelling place for our spiritual being.

The last days will come as Christ foretold.  Pray that we are not here physically to experience it.  Pray that our time has come and gone and that we have transitioned into the spirit living with him in his kingdom before that day.  He has foretold it.  It is coming.  Let us be prepared. He has foretold it.   

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 24, verse: 3a; Tell us.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples question Christ) Part 1.  

And so it was that Christ foretold of the Temple destruction.  The disciples were awestruck.  They did not know what to say or what to expect.  They believed that their city and their Temple would exist forever.  Little did they know or believe that it would be destroyed and that message would come from the mouth of the Messiah.  It must have been an mad idea, a thought of disbelief, something of unbelievable incomprehension.

Yet here was the Christ, the Son of God, telling them of what would happen in the future, something they had to accept as truth.  Their minds were buzzing with all kinds of questions, all kinds of doubts, all kinds of curiosities that required answers.  So, "And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when are these things to happen."

They could not wait.  They had to know.  They wanted to know.  They were curious.  Their minds were full of thoughts of how this would happen and by what means.  Would a flood come?  Would there be fire?  Would an invader come and destroy the Temple, or would the Romans tear it down and destroy the people as the Pharisees feared?  How would this happen? Would it happen today or tomorrow?  Would it happen next week?  Should they make preparations to leave the city?  Should they tell their friends and relatives?  So many questions ran through their minds that they had to have answers to what Christ had just told them about the Temple and the city.

What would you do if you knew?  Would you run and go to another place?  Would you tell your brothers and sisters, mother and father, uncle, aunts, other relatives?  Would they believe you?  Would they leave with you or just laugh you off as crazy?  This man that you have been following, this man that you believe is the Messiah has told you that the city will be destroyed and you believe him.  What do you think others will say about you?  

You have had an epiphany awakening and believe that the spirit has come to you to open your eyes about the world you live in and who you are.  The spirit has enlightened you with the knowledge of your purpose and has given you the means to accomplish it.  You want to help others to come out of the darkness into the light.  So you tell them of your experience.  Would they believe you?  Would they seek to know the truth the same as you or would they think that you are crazy?  Would you tell your brothers, sisters, mother, father, uncles, aunts, other relatives?  Who would you confide in that would understand?  

I can only do what has been given me to do and hope others will see.  Love is the key to change.  I love my mother and father, sister and brothers, uncles and aunts, but I cannot force them to do what I do.  I can only love them for who they are and pray for them, asking God for forgiveness and mercy.  Thank you Father for your love.  Thank you Christ for your passion.  Thank you Holy Spirit for you enlightenment.

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 23, verses: 39b; Blessed is He.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Lamentation over Jerusalem) Part 7.  

Christ ends his commentary to the Scribes and the Pharisees with a prophesy.  He wants them to know that he has told them before hand what will happen and how it will happen.  He has given them every opportunity to open their hearts and minds to the truth but they are unwilling to see the light.  They are blind to the wisdom that comes forth from who they see and perceive as being a commoner, a charlatan attempting to mislead the people and disturb the peace.

They live in fear.  They live in doubt.  They live in disbelief of their own religion.  They are the leaders responsible for leading the flock to God and they know him not.  Christ told them that he was leaving, they would not see him any more.  It would not be:  "Until you shall say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' "

This was the prophesy that was to come.  This was the message that was to be spoken by those who would see the coming of the kingdom of heaven on the day of judgment.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord to save the people from damnation.  On that day the people will know the truth of his name.

On that day all knees will bend and heads will bow to the Lord of all creation.  For he will judge all, the living and the dead.  All things hidden will be revealed.  All things unknown will be known.  All that we have feared will be open to understanding, for we all will be able to see the truth that has been hidden since the beginning of time.  

We were not given the knowledge to understand, to comprehend all things.  This is the nature of who we are, the essence of our being.  Yet we have, as human beings, the capability to perceive and do great wonders within our realm of existence.  God has given us the ability to love, to hate, to feel, to know, to see, to understand, to perceive, conceive, to believe beyond ourselves that which we do not know but can imagine.  We are the lowly creations without full knowledge, but we have the ability to understand on a limited basis what we know.  And it is that knowledge that allows us to conceive and believe in our God and his love for us.

We are the children of the Creator.  He has life and has shared his life eternal with us that we may know him in our limited capacity.   To grasp a small portion of his love for us is so powerful that it will fill to capacity every cell in our mind, body and soul.  We can not contain the truth of it.  But it is there for us to receive if we choose to seek it, if we choose to find it, if we choose to know a small portion of the passion of Christ in God.  Seek him and ask to know his love. 

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: 32c; Seeing is Believing.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the two sons) Part 7. 

I remember when I attended college we had to take a required philosophy course.  One of the main questions in that course dealt with the idea of our senses.  Do I exist in this world; what proof do I have?  Can I believe what I see?  What I touch is it real?  How do I know?  Can I believe what I smell?  What is this that I taste, is it real?

We are rational beings.  We order our world so that it makes sense to us.  Those things that do not make sense to us causes confusion and disbelief.  The chief priest and the scribes did not believe that Jesus was the Christ.  They thought he was a charlatan.  Christ gave them the opportunity to believe but they were not open, even after they saw that others were seeing and believing.  He told them:  "Whereas you, seeing it, did not even repent afterwards, that you might believe him." 

They saw the miracles.  They heard the word.  They witnessed the cures of others and yet still did not, could not believe.  What held them back?  What prevented them from believing what they were seeing so that they could repent?  Could they not make sense of what they were seeing?  Could they not understand the reality of what was happening to the world around them?  Or were they so far down the road of disbelief that they could not turn around?

Christ told his disciples that many prophets and kings have desired to see what they were seeing and hear what they were hearing.  They were blessed to be in the presence of the Living God, a privilege that others had only dreamed about.  Yet those who had this privilege did not or could not understand how blessed they were.  Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe.

Why do I write what I write?  Who will read such?  Who will believe such?  How many will understand?  How many will believe?  At a younger age in high school, I found peace in my life through the church.  I was happy and full of joy.  Yet as I grew older and ventured into the world, peace was something that I could not find.  So distraught and depressed was I that I was  without hope, even to the point of ending the life that was given to me.

Yet a still voice within me encouraged me to seek my answer in the Bible, the New Testament, the words of Christ Jesus.  I had heard those words many times before but not to the extent of the complete reading of it.  And reading the whole Bible, all the words of Christ, I was able to find peace.  I wept.  I cried.  I asked for forgiveness.  For I was lost in the world without a foundation, a rock to stand upon.  Now I have a foundation of grace, forgiveness, and love.  And this foundation gives me peace in the world.  I believe.  I see.  I know.  I am in 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:20; Seeing is believing.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Power of faith) Part 1. 

Christ cursed the fig tree because it had no purpose.  It had leaves but no fruit.  It had leaves but no seed bearing fruit.  It had life but no purpose.  So he cursed it and it withered up.  It had life but upon the spoken words it withered up immediately.  The life that was in it was no more.  It ceased to exist.

The disciples heard the words spoken by Christ.  They heard him speak the curse.  They saw the effect of his words.  And they were in disbelief.  And upon seeing this the disciples marveled, saying, "How did it come to wither immediately?"

They saw it but marveled at how it happened.  They saw it but did not understand how.  They saw it but were in disbelief.  Christ was hungry and wanted something to eat.  God gave life to all the world and provided all kinds of fruit bearing trees.  The trees have a purpose.  We have a purpose.  But this tree did not have a purpose.  It existed without bearing fruit.  So Christ cursed it and it ceased to exist. 

Can you see?  Can you believe?  Can you understand that we have a purpose here on this earth?  Can you know that we will not be cursed?  Can you trust that you are loved?  There is something more than just to exist without a purpose.  There is something more than to just live and then to die with no conscience of what lies beyond death.  There is more to the life that we are given than to wither up and cease to exist after death.

Stop and think.  Stop and get off the merry-go-round of life.  Stop and open your mind and your heart and receive the love that awaits you.  For you are loved.  You are alive.  You are filled with the light of life.  Believe and you shall receive.  Accept and you shall know.  Trust and you shall see the miracles that will come to you from the one who loves.  There are those who would destroy.  There are those who would deny.  There are those who would deceive and blind you and take away your ability to understand.  Be not turned by the lust of the world for it is death.  Instead seek that which you know in your heart is truth and life and love.  For he awaits your call.  He awaits your open heart.  He awaits your opening the door that he may come and be with you.  Come!  Join the living and the love of Christ will come upon you that you may live forever.

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 19, verse: 25b, The hearing of the disciples.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The danger of riches) Part 4. 

The disciples heard the words of Christ and they were astonished.  They were in disbelief.  They could not understand what they had heard.  Their minds immediately thought of fear and anxiety.  And their hearts were filled with loss.  For they assumed that all would have access to the kingdom of heaven especially those who had wealth and riches.  But Christ wanted them to know the rules.  He wanted them to understand that the spiritual kingdom was not the same as the physical world. 

In the physical world those who have riches, those who have power, those who have influence are the privileged.  They are the ones who can use their power to get what they want.  But in the spiritual world there are rules, there are criteria by which one is judged before entering.  And the criteria specify that one lives by certain requirements here on earth.  The disciples did not understand the truth of the words that were spoken.  They did not hear with their hearts the meaning of the message.  And as a result they came to the conclusion and said, "Who then can be saved?"

If the rich man has difficulty entering the kingdom, what about the poor man.  Will he be able to enter the kingdom?  Will all those who do not have wealth, those who have means, be shut out of the kingdom?  Who, will be saved, was the shocking question on their minds?  And shocking was what Christ wanted to do.  He wanted them to understand.  For they did not see.  They did not hear.  They did not understand the truth of the kingdom of heaven.  Wealth or power or influence does not of itself open the doors to the kingdom. 

Christ wanted them to understand the difficulty that riches of itself could pose to hinder one from entering the kingdom.  Riches are of the earth.  Riches belong to the world.  Earthly riches are of no value in the kingdom.  Yet earthly riches are what we seek to have.  Earthly wealth is what we all desire.  Power and influence are the things that we wish to possess so that we might walk with those who are rich and famous.  We desire to be seen in the news or on the magazine cover or at a celebrity event.  We seek recognition.

But the criteria for the kingdom is not recognition.  The criteria for the kingdom is not pride but humility.  The criteria for the kingdom is not wealth but poverty of spirit.  The criteria for the kingdom is not hatred but love, not anger but forgiveness, not lust but modesty, not greed but charity.  Christ wanted his disciples to understand these principles just as he wants us to understand them today.  He calls upon us to practice these principles in the here and now so that we will be prepared to enter into the kingdom.  He has given us the blueprint on how to live our lives.

The decision is ours to make.  God is our father.  He knows our needs.  He provides for us daily in every way, if we choose to see and believe.  Those coincidences and circumstances that happen to us, happen by his hands.  Those little things that he gives us, daily, are his provisions, his protections.  If we could only see and understand, how grateful we would be.  For he is our provider.  He is our protector.  He is our source for life.  Our heart's satisfaction is in him.  Our desire to be loved is fulfilled in him.  Our longing for peace is through him and he will give us everlasting peace.  Seek him and you will know.  Ask him and he will provide.  Patience is the key.  Love him and you will know his love for you.

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 14, verse: 31, The Test of Heart: The Admonition from Christ.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter walks on the water) Part 4.  

The heart was elated.  The heart was filled with joy.  The heart was in Christ and Christ was in Peter.  For Peter walked on water.  There was no doubt in this fact.  It happened.  He experienced it within himself, within his heart, within his being, within his mind, within his soul.  And his heart was elated.  His heart was overjoyed.  But he allowed something to happen.  He allowed the world to come in.  He allowed the wind and the waves to change his heart.  He allowed what was happening around him to take the focus from his heart to his mind and the mind brought in the world.  How is this happening?  How am I walking on water?  How is the water supporting me that I can step as though I was on solid ground?  These and other questions came to mind and invaded the heart to push Christ out.  

The joy of the miracle was gone.  The elation of the heart was gone.  The light of the spirit left and in came doubt.  And with doubt the miracle faded and Peter began to sink in the water.  The more he allowed doubt to come the more he sank and with the sinking came fear.  He was loosing the power of the spirit.  He was experiencing the loss of faith in Christ.  For it was through Christ the the miracle began.  Christ said, "Come."  And Peter came.  Christ said walk on water and Peter walked on water.  Christ said behold all things are possible within me and the possibility of walking on water became true with Peter.  Yet just as the miracle happened, the miracle stopped happening when the heart stopped believing, the mind took over, and fear came in.   But seeing the wind was strong, he was afraid; and as he began to sink he cried out saying, "Lord, save me!"

It is hard to imagine something that we have not seen before.  It is difficult to believe in something that has not happened before.  For history has not recorded anything like man walking on water.  History has not given us any recollection of such happening that man can explain.  So we do not believe.  Our minds do not allow us to believe that such is possible.  And thus we maintain a sense of skepticism, a degree of doubt and disbelief.  If someone told us that we could be healed just by our belief in Christ, we would naturally doubt the assertion because there is little to no evidence of that fact.  It is not established in the world by facts that we can intelligently believe.  Yet it is this same doubt and disbelief that separates us from the opportunity to receive the healing powers of the spirit.   And Jesus at once stretched forth his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? "

The kingdom of God is within our midst, if we believe.  The kingdom of heaven is upon us, if we open our hearts to the power of the spirit.  Christ told Peter to come.  Christ tells us today that we can, we are, and we will.  Do you believe?  Do you know?  Can you seek?  Will you find?  Will it be opened to you to see the power of Almighty God?  Imagine what Peter felt walking on the water!  Imagine what you will feel receiving your miracle!  The world will hold on to you.  The world will resist allowing you to make your transformation.  The world will tell you that you are loosing reality, that we are not sane.  The world will do everything to keep you from believing, but belief in Christ and his healing power requires that you let go of reality. 

Belief in Christ and the things that are possible through him requires that you leave reality and the world behind.  Belief in Christ requires that you take on a new reality in Christ and the kingdom of heaven.  Only through this transformation will you be able to step into the kingdom and look back upon the world as another place.  Come, experience the miracle of rebirth!  You are not of the world.  You are of the kingdom of heaven, only in the world to do the bidding of Christ, only to be his witness to the things that are.  Your treasures are in heaven and not of this world.  Discover the treasure in you and you will know the joy and peace of who you are.  The world does not want you to know.  The world wants to steal your treasure.  The world wants you to sleep and be deceived about who you are in Christ.  Peter was in Christ and Christ was in Peter as he walked on the water.  Imagine what miracles you will experience when Christ is in you and you are in Christ.  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one in Christ.  How strong is your desire?   

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 57 - 58, Jesus in his own country: A Prophet without honor.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus at Nazareth) Part 3.   

Jesus was in his own country, the country where he grew up as a child.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he knew the people of his village.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he became a man.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he was known as a common man.  But Jesus was not a common man.  He was the Son of God who came to earth to save mankind from damnation.  The people knew the prophecy.  The people knew the scriptures.  The people knew of the coming of the the Messiah, but in his own country they did not see.  In his own country they did not hear.  In his own village they did not believe.

When he preached in the synagogues, they were astonished.  When he preached in the markets, they were unbelieving.  When he preached in the streets they did not see.  For they knew him as the son of Joseph the carpenter.  They knew his as a local.  They knew him not as the Son of God for astonishment had taken over and brought with it anger, and hatred, and doubt, and disbelief, and jealousy, and fear, and many other spirits more evil than itself.  And the spirits worked against the people to turn them against Christ.   It is said,  And they took offense at him. 

Christ was not the son of a wealthy merchant.  Christ was not the son of a Pharisee.  Christ was not the son of a politician.  Christ was not the son of a scholar.  Christ was the son of a carpenter, a commoner amongst the people.  How could he be this man of faith?  How could he be this miracle worker?  How could he be this man of spiritual wisdom?  He was just a common person just like the rest of the common people.  Yet he was the Son of God and they did not accept it.  They did not see it.  They did not hear the message.  And it was written in the scriptures that the Messiah would come.  It was written in the scriptures that he would be born in Bethlehem.  It was written in the scriptures that he would be a common man.   And astonishment had taken over and the people did not believe.

And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them,  "A

prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house."  And because of their unbelief, he did not work many miracles there.

Do we take offense today at those who are in Christ?  Do we not honor those who have been transformed by the blood of the lamb?  Astonishment took the people in Christ's own country.  Will astonishment take over the people in the church?  Will astonishment creep into the minds and hearts of Christians and make them take offense?  We must constantly be on our guard to close the door to astonishment and his brothers of evil.  For they will come.  They will seek entrance.  They will attempt to take over. 

Do not take offense.  Take love.  Take peace.  Take understanding.  Take wisdom.  Take Christ into your heart and he will close the door to astonishment and his brothers of evil.  For we are all children of God who gave us life eternal.  We are all glorious beings filled with the light of Christ. And when that time comes, we will all see ourselves as we are known, beautiful images of Christ in God.  Let us love one another as Christ commanded that we do.  For we are loved by our heavenly Father just as he loves his son, Jesus.   Christ is waiting to work a miracle in you.  Will you open yourself to him and let him in?