Words of Spirit and Life

What Jesus Said About Asking.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words, they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:5-8.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asks will receive, and he that seeks will find, and to him, that knocks it shall be opened unto him. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son would ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? Read More. “What Jesus Said About Asking.”

Believers And Being Persecuted.

Jesus Was Persecuted.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the Father that sent Me. John 15:18-21.

Persecuted Because of Righteousness.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12.

Then said Jesus unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  Read More. “Believers And Being Persecuted.”

Praying To The Father.

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not you, therefore, like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, even before you ask Him. After this manner, therefore, pray you Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in the earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Matthew 6: 7-13

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you.  You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.  Read More. “Praying To The Father.”

Believers In But Not Of The World.

Believers Are To Be In The World.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:15-17.

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. John 17:9-12.

Believers Will Be Hated By The World.

 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. Read More. “Believers In But Not Of The World.”

The Father And The Holy Spirit.

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or, if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11 v 9-13.

If you Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;  Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it cannot see Him, Neither do they know Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:15-18. Read More. “The Father And The Holy Spirit.”

Narrow Gate And Narrow Way.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14.

And Jesus went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”And Jesus said to them,“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. Read More. “Narrow Gate And Narrow Way.”

Believers And Oaths.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5: 33-37.

Woe unto you, you blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!  You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?  Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon.  Read More. “Believers And Oaths.”

Can Everyone Enter Heaven?

Not Everyone Will Enter.

Not everyone that will say unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name, we have cast out devils? and in Your name, we have done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them,” I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7 vs 21-23.

What Is The Will Of The Father?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Read More. “Can Everyone Enter Heaven?”

The Kingdom Of Heaven And Treasure.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6: 19-21.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46.

And, behold, one came and said unto Jesus, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you would enter into life, keep the commandments.  He said unto Jesus, Which? Jesus said, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother: and, you shall love your  neighbour as  yourself. Read More. “The Kingdom Of Heaven And Treasure.”

Are You A Keeper Of The Words Of Jesus?

Jesus Was A Keeper Of The Father’s Word.

And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe Me?  He that is of God hears God’s Words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.  Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that You are a Samaritan, and has a devil? Jesus answered I have not a devil, but I honour My Father, and you do dishonour Me.  And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never see death.

Then said the Jews unto Jesus, Now we know that You have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never taste of death.  Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honours Me; of whom you say, that He is your God:  Yet you have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and I keep His saying. Read More. “Are You A Keeper Of The Words Of Jesus?”