All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Be On Your Guard Against Stumbling Blocks: a stumbling block is any person or thing by which one is drawn into error or sin and thus, entrapped. Jesus Christ clearly makes it known that there will always be a person that will entrap you as a believer. And it would have been better for such person who is a stumbling block to perish, than to cause a believer in Christ to fall into unbelief or sin. Therefore, anyone who is a stumbling block should rather perish alone, than to make another person perish with him. This means that a stumbling block is already destined for destruction. Also the possibility of meeting with a stumbling block, almost always, should always make you be on your guard. And while on your guard, you meet with any, rebuke and correct him. If he repents, forgive him and you will have as well delivered him from his destruction. Being on your guard against stumbling blocks will save your life and possibly also deliver the person who is a stumbling block from destruction.
You Do Not Need A Big Faith: the disciples cried “Increase our faith!” Jesus Christ quietly answered them that they actually do not need a big faith. Faith is a seed furnished upon the heart by the Holy Spirit. And it does not matter the size of this seed, as long as it is the breath of the Holy Spirit, it can grow into a big tree of reality if spoken out. The size of a tree is not determined by the size of the seed. The mustard seed to which Jesus Christ likens faith, as a matter of fact, is a very small seed but grows to become a very big tree. You grow your small seed of faith into a big tree of reality when you give a command by it. Do not wait to have a big faith, or ‘feel’ powerful, before you attend to situations. Only ensure you have faith, even if it is as small as a grain, and you will move mountains, even physical ones.
Do Not Expect A Commendation: some, thinking because they have worked for God, He is therefore under obligation to appreciate them. Of course, God does appreciate, but it is not your entitlement. Who compliments a slave for doing what he ought to do? It is pride that makes one expect a commendation. If you see yourself as who you truly are, you will not expect any compliment. Expecting an appreciation means you do not know your responsibility. Apostle Paul captures this explicitly in 1 Corinthians 9:17-18
“For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”
So, his reward was the work he was entrusted with. Do no look for any commendation again, serving God itself is a commendation. The service of God is a noble one, and nobody is worthy to be enlisted therein. It is a great privilege to serve Him in His kingdom. It does not matter what you have done, or how much you have wrought, know that “you are an unworthy slave; you have done only that which you ought to have done.”
Ungratefulness Is A Sign of Faithlessness: if at anytime God gives you a blessing, which instantly does not manifest physically, thank Him. Failure to thank Him actually means you do not believe His word. Out of the ten lepers who were cleansed, only one returned to thank Jesus. The rest, since they had not gotten to the priest who would confirm them healed, just like a physician does, did not believe they had been actually cleansed. So they did not return to give thanks. They consequently lost there healing because they lost their faith. After the one, who was a stranger, returned and worshipped, Jesus told him "stand up and go; your faith has made you well." So only the one who gave thanks was known to have faith, and was therefore made well by his faith. Anyone who does not give thanks does not have faith, and therefore cannot receive anything from God. James says concerning such person that he “is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8).
Also watch against getting too familiar with God. The only leper who returned to give thanks was the only stranger amongst the ten. The rest were of the same nationality with Jesus.
The Characteristics of Noah’s Time And Lot’s Time Will Be The Same With Jesus’ Time: Jesus Christ told His disciples the things that will be prominent on earth by the time He will be returning to the earth to establish His everlasting kingdom. By the prominence of these events now, you can know if His coming is near or not. Some of the striking activities were EATING, DRINKING, MARRYING and BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, BUYING, SELLING, PLANTING and BUILDING. Now the great question is, Are they more universally characteristics of this epoch than of any other? The obvious answer is YES! These are the major activities that the whole world is presently preoccupied with. Now if the present times are only beginning to take the form of those of Noah and Lot, they send forth a sharp cry of warning, admonishing us to stand with our loins girded about and our lamps burning, waiting for the summons of the Lord.
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