Obeying the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ
As I was reading the book of II Thessalonians, Paul strongly warns that the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
We have established that knowing God is having a personal relationship with Him.
As the word know was first used in Genesis 3, saying that Adam knew his wife and
she conceived; implying intermit icy.
Jesus came preaching repentance (Matthew 4:17) which says “from that time Jesus
began to preach; and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
Repentance means to turn away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning
back to God. John the Baptist also preached repentance and told those that came
to be baptized to bring forth therefore fruits fitting for repentance.
Jesus opened Hs mouth, and taught them what we call the B Attitudes (Matthew 5:3-
12), which says “Blessed are the poor, humble, in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the
meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are
the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you, when men shall revile you; and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad;
for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you”.
Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, telling us to
“let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven (verse 16).
Jesus tells us to love your enemies (verse 44-45) “but I say to you, love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That you may be the children
of your Father which is in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on
the god, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”.
In chapter 6 He teaches us to give, but tells us not to give to be seen of men, for our
rewards will have to come from men. He tells us when you do alms, let it be done in
secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly (verse 1-4).
He teaches us to pray, and tells us not to be like the hypocrites do by trying to be
seen of men, but for us to go into our closet and pray to our Father in secret; and
not to pray vain repetitions. His disciples then asked Him to teach them how to pray
and he gave them a prayer pattern in verses 9-13 which says “Our Father which are
in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in 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 for ever, Amen”.
It shows that we acknowledge our heavenly Father, reverencing His name, and
asking for His kingdom to come and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven. In
other words praising God for who He is. Then asking for our daily bread; many
people start their prayer by asking for the things that they want.
Verse 12 says “and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”; in verses 14-
15 He makes it clear that if we do not forgive others, our heavenly Father can not
forgive us.
Jesus teaches us how to fast, He says when you fast, indicating that fasting should
be a part of our lives. We are to fast, without telling everybody that we are fasting,
doing it secretly. When we fast, we are not causing God to do anything, but when
we fast, we are bringing our flesh under control and causing our spirit man to be
able to hear from God.
We are told to “therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall
we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these
things. Seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these
things shall be added to you” (verses 31-33).
In chapter 7 Jesus teaches us not to judge, so we be not judged. He warns us that
as we look at the speck in our brothers eyes, we might have a beam in our own
eyes. We must first cast out the beam our of our own eye, and then we can see
clearly to cast the speck out of our brother’s eye. In other words, focus on what you
are doing in line with the word of God. He tells us to ask, to seek, to knock; and
assures us that “everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him
that knocks it shall be opened (verses 1-8).
We are warned to beware of false prophets, and told that we shall know them by
their fruits. Verses 17-18 says “even so every good tree brings, forth good fruit; but
a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth good fruit”.
He says “not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to
Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your
name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works? And
then I will profess to them, I never knew you; depart from Me you that work iniquity.
Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the wins blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not for it was
founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of Mine, and does
them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (verses 21-27).
This chapter ends showing that when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at His doctrine (His teachings). For He taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes.
Let us learn the teachings of Jesus, and apply them in our lives. Jesus said “if you
love Me, you will keep My commandments”. The Bible gives us the standards to go
by. Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes that they have made the word of God of
none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered, and many such like
things you do (Mark 7:13). Don’t look at the Old Testament as some thing void. It is
scripture; as Paul preached to the Bereans, the Bible says that they searched the
scriptures to see if it was so. The only scriptures they had at that time was the
Torah and prophets. The New Testament was not written at that time. Besides
Roman 15:4 says “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”.
Let us examine ourselves, and judge ourselves, to see if we are setting our mark on
the standards that the Bible has set. Paul said “follow me, as I follow Jesus”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 29, 2009
As I was reading the book of II Thessalonians, Paul strongly warns that the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
We have established that knowing God is having a personal relationship with Him.
As the word know was first used in Genesis 3, saying that Adam knew his wife and
she conceived; implying intermit icy.
Jesus came preaching repentance (Matthew 4:17) which says “from that time Jesus
began to preach; and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
Repentance means to turn away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning
back to God. John the Baptist also preached repentance and told those that came
to be baptized to bring forth therefore fruits fitting for repentance.
Jesus opened Hs mouth, and taught them what we call the B Attitudes (Matthew 5:3-
12), which says “Blessed are the poor, humble, in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the
meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are
the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you, when men shall revile you; and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad;
for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you”.
Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, telling us to
“let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven (verse 16).
Jesus tells us to love your enemies (verse 44-45) “but I say to you, love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That you may be the children
of your Father which is in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on
the god, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”.
In chapter 6 He teaches us to give, but tells us not to give to be seen of men, for our
rewards will have to come from men. He tells us when you do alms, let it be done in
secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly (verse 1-4).
He teaches us to pray, and tells us not to be like the hypocrites do by trying to be
seen of men, but for us to go into our closet and pray to our Father in secret; and
not to pray vain repetitions. His disciples then asked Him to teach them how to pray
and he gave them a prayer pattern in verses 9-13 which says “Our Father which are
in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in 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 for ever, Amen”.
It shows that we acknowledge our heavenly Father, reverencing His name, and
asking for His kingdom to come and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven. In
other words praising God for who He is. Then asking for our daily bread; many
people start their prayer by asking for the things that they want.
Verse 12 says “and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”; in verses 14-
15 He makes it clear that if we do not forgive others, our heavenly Father can not
forgive us.
Jesus teaches us how to fast, He says when you fast, indicating that fasting should
be a part of our lives. We are to fast, without telling everybody that we are fasting,
doing it secretly. When we fast, we are not causing God to do anything, but when
we fast, we are bringing our flesh under control and causing our spirit man to be
able to hear from God.
We are told to “therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall
we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these
things. Seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these
things shall be added to you” (verses 31-33).
In chapter 7 Jesus teaches us not to judge, so we be not judged. He warns us that
as we look at the speck in our brothers eyes, we might have a beam in our own
eyes. We must first cast out the beam our of our own eye, and then we can see
clearly to cast the speck out of our brother’s eye. In other words, focus on what you
are doing in line with the word of God. He tells us to ask, to seek, to knock; and
assures us that “everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him
that knocks it shall be opened (verses 1-8).
We are warned to beware of false prophets, and told that we shall know them by
their fruits. Verses 17-18 says “even so every good tree brings, forth good fruit; but
a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth good fruit”.
He says “not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to
Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your
name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works? And
then I will profess to them, I never knew you; depart from Me you that work iniquity.
Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the wins blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not for it was
founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of Mine, and does
them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (verses 21-27).
This chapter ends showing that when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at His doctrine (His teachings). For He taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes.
Let us learn the teachings of Jesus, and apply them in our lives. Jesus said “if you
love Me, you will keep My commandments”. The Bible gives us the standards to go
by. Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes that they have made the word of God of
none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered, and many such like
things you do (Mark 7:13). Don’t look at the Old Testament as some thing void. It is
scripture; as Paul preached to the Bereans, the Bible says that they searched the
scriptures to see if it was so. The only scriptures they had at that time was the
Torah and prophets. The New Testament was not written at that time. Besides
Roman 15:4 says “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”.
Let us examine ourselves, and judge ourselves, to see if we are setting our mark on
the standards that the Bible has set. Paul said “follow me, as I follow Jesus”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 29, 2009
