GatewayLife

Why Worry?

Let’s take a brief moment to consider one of the observations made in our study of Matthew:

“Jesus again shows that in himself may we find all of the security we need in our lives. Echoing the promises of the Sermon on the Mount, he reveals to us the power and authority he has over disease, storms, spirits, out sins, and death. What more could worry us?”

When we think about our lives, why do we worry with what we will eat and drink? Why do we fear those things we think can harm us? We worry because we do not know Jesus. If we truly know Jesus, then we will understand that he has all power and authority and that he is good!

If we ask Jesus for bread, he will not give us a stone. If we ask Jesus for a fish, he will not give us a serpent.

We should read the gospels and understand that the same God created the world walked on that same world. He healed diseases and calmed storms. He had all the authority, yet laid it down so that he might die a sinner’s death in order to save us.

If Jesus did all of these and promises that he his with us, what do we have to fear? Rejection? Jesus already bore our sin and we are grafted into the family. Tomorrow’s troubles? Jesus knows and will provide everything we need.

In light of the truth we have already seen and will continue to see in the Gospel of Matthew, we should hit our knees and confess that we know far too little of God and as such depend on ourselves too much.

Praise God for his life-giving sacrifice, his meeting of our daily needs, and the comfort that the Holy Spirit provides as he glorifies God in our lives! 

Peace,

Jeff Moody

Jeffmoody82@gmail.com

Following Jesus is not a Simple Matter

As American Christians, we have a tendency to see Jesus as either a means to an end (he can make me happy), or we just add him into our list of weekly routines. I am afraid we do not know much about actually following Jesus. 

In Matthew 8:18-22 Jesus has performed incredible miracles, so you can imagine that the group following him has grown quote large. Matthew recounts two occurences where Jesus shows that following him requires something from us. 

To the scribe he says: Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. When we say we are following Jesus, are we following him with everything, including those things that we consider essentials? Or have we bought into our consumer driven society so much that we will follow God but would not consider giving up our house? God calls us to follow him, with everything included. Job, house, cars, finances, retirement. Are we willing to give these things over to God? We are not all called to lives of foreign missions or poverty, but we are called to give God everything and serve him with everything we have. 

To the disciple who wants to bury his father Jesus says: Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. Some commentators show that the father was not actually dead, but that the man wanted to stay with him until the end of his life. Regardless, everything we do, even if they are good things, have the potential to take our eyes off of following Jesus with our whole hearts. Do you know that your children or parents can be idols? Anything we put before following Christ is an idol. 

So what do we do? We need to correct our thinking. Rather than adding God into our lives at the end of the other activities, we need to make Jesus first and do everything to glorify him. This is the point Jesus is making in this passage. Nothing comes before him. 

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

Jesus is the True Miracle

That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took out illnesses and bore our diseases."

Following the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew recounts three of Jesus' miraculous healings. The leper, the centurion's servant, and Peter's mother-in-law. After these healings, he stays around and heals both the demon possessed and the sick. Not just some of the sick, ALL of the sick. 

Do we truly understand the power of Christ over infirmities? Is there anything Christ cannot do? Do we have anything to fear? We tend to separate the miracles of Christ out and say that happened in his time and we leave it in its historical place without understanding that Jesus, who is alive and active today, still has the same authority over both the spiritual and physical world. 

Jesus stands above the physical and spiritual worlds and will accomplish his will whether we can see it or not. We need not lose focus on the miracle maker and focus only on the miracle. The true miracle is Jesus because all miracles come from him. 

This same Jesus, capable of controlling all things allowed himself to be betrayed, falsely accused, and unjustly murdered. Then, in the greatest miracle, rose again from the grave to provide life for all who follow him. Not only did he die and rise again, but in doing so he bore our sins and stood in our place in facing God's judgment. The sin that separated us from God is no more and we can now walk with God in eternal life both on earth and in heaven. 

Now that's a miracle!

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

Jesus: The Savior for All People

Matthew 8:5-13. 

A Roman Centurion came to Jesus, knowing that he could heal a paralyzed servant with only a word. We should understand a couple of things about this soldier's role in the Jewish society. He was an oppressor as he served Rome in the control of Israel. He was a pagan, worshiping the many gods of Rome as well as the emperor. If there was a person far away from the ones the promised Messiah was to save, it would be this centurion. 

Yet, Jesus says that no one in Israel has shown this type of faith. This man believed in Christ and despite his background, Jesus healed his servant by a word. Is there any place for any favoritism when it comes to the message of Christ?

For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. - Galatians 3:26-29.

We are all one in Jesus. His healing power is for us and everyone around us. White or black, male or female, American or Iraqi, God's love extends to all people. So you or I or anyone else have nothing in us that will separate us from God's salvation. What separates us from God is sin and Jesus took that on the cross. 

1. Do we believe that God's salvation is for everyone?

2. Do our lives reflect this belief?

3. Do our churches reflect this belief?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

He is Willing, Be Clean

Matthew 8:2-3

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

This small section in the life of Jesus shows us his incredible heart of compassion. A leper was considered unclean and as such could not participate with the larger society. Can you imagine the thoughts of those who were following Jesus as this man approached. Surely if someone is not worthy to talk with God, it would be this leper. 

Yet Jesus lets him come and heals him. 

The leper shows his faith in that he acknowledged the power of Jesus as soon as he approaches. He understands that God is able to do anything, even cure an incurable disease. He does not know if Jesus was willing to cleanse him. 

Yet Jesus lets him come and heals him. 

Jesus also saves the Samaritan woman, a culture rejected by God's people, the Jews. He heals a Roman centurion's servant, he makes the blind see and the lame walk. He gives salvation to the prostitutes and tax collectors. He associates with those who were the outcasts of society and proves that salvation is available to all. 

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his stripes we are healed. - Isaiah 53:4-5.

Jesus lets him come and heals him. 

Jesus lets me come and heals me.

If the leper can be cleansed, what is it that you feel separates you from the love of God? Whatever it may be, Jesus lets you come and heals you. 

Be clean. 

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

Words and Power

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes -- Matthew 7:28-29

There are at least two points we can see in this scripture. 

1. God's words have power. 

Jesus spoke as one who had authority because he has authority because he is God. Jesus, God on earth, gave the people direct revelation. As the creator of the world and all of the people in it, he speaks with authority. 

Before he returned to heaven, he gave us a calling out of that authority to go and to teach and to discple and to baptize (Matthew 18:18-20). We have the power of Christ when sharing his words. The same authority he spoke the Sermon on the Mount with resides in us by the Holy Spirit. 

2. Our words have no power. 

Jesus is set against the Scribes as the one who has authority. Why? The Scribes were the religious leaders of the Jews responsible for the scriptures. Should they not have authority to speak the words of God? They had the words, but they missed the point. This is why they did not speak with authority. They were not sharing God's word, but their own words over and above God's word. Their message had no meaning to the people because they did not speak with the authority of God. 

So, when we think about our interactions with an unbelieving world, what are we sharing? Do we share the power of God in his word, or do we share on our own thoughts?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

The Storms of Life

Matthew 7:24-25

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house in the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 

Most of us have read the final words of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount before and sometimes these words can grow cold. However, that is not the case for someone going through the storms of life. Often we only truly seek God in the midst of tremendous suffering. 

So Jesus' words here offer tremendous hope to us. If we hear and do his word, then our foundation will be Christ and we will weather the storm. Rain, floods, and winds cannot break the person who is built on the rock that is Christ. We will never be forsaken by God, nor will he ever give us anything beyond what we can bear. And though we may be in the midst of tremendouse pain, we can say with Paul: 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always cayying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

The key to our hope in this world is the promise that God is with us, that he has endured the hardship and enables us to do the same. Those who do not follow Christ, their hope is built on sand, and when they face the same hardships, their house will fall. There will be suffering for all of us in this fallen world. Following christ does not grant us freedom from suffering but hope in the midst of it. 

1. How can we put into the practice the words of Jesus and so build our foundation on the rock?

2. Are there areas in your life that you still cling to as a foundation that keep you from wholly depending on God?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com 

What's Most Important?

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord ,Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

We talk often about the will of God for our lives. Unfortunately, this thinking often coincides with putting ourselves first. What is the will of God for MY life? What should I be doing? And so on. Jesus shows God's will in this passage and presents a startling truth. 

First, it does not matter what we say. Even if we call Jesus "Lord," it does not mean that we are truly following Christ. Jesus calls us to do the will of his Father in heaven. Knowing that he presents a legalistic situation, Jesus immediately shows what following the will of the father is and what it is not. 

So often when dealing with the will of God, we immediately go into the works we try to perform. I have done this or that for God. God called me to do this or that. Even if the language is right, we have to be careful of the intention. Many people will say to Jesus, "We did all these things in your name." And Jesus' response: I never knew you. Doing the will of the Father in heaven is this: knowing Jesus. None of our great works matter if we do not know Jesus. Rather, the good works from faith that glorify God come from knowing Jesus. 

 

So, there is only one question to ask: 

Do you know Christ, or are you merely doing works in his name without knowing him? 

Knowing Christ is the most important thing. 

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

Inside to Outside

In Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus gives his followers a way to avoid following the teachings of false prophets. You will recognize them by their fruits. There are many who will seek to lead us astray into false teaching. Jesus deals with intentions in the next verses, but he clearly warns that there will be those who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 

Ever meet anyone who has latched on to the new teaching? Ever latched on yourself? We could run through the list of books and seminars that have sought to provide the new way of looking at Christ or spirituality. From Dan Brown to Elaine Pagels. How do we disseminate the truth from false prophets? 

By their fruit. Now, do I mean their work with the poor? No. Plenty of people can do plenty of good things out of the wrong intentions. If it is not done to glorify God, then the action is sin. (1 John 4:1-3). So how do we tell the difference? 

The fruit in keeping with repentance and is that which honors God. The fruit the Spirit does not grow in us so that we will become better people in the eyes of others. It grows so that we can honor God and that will reflect in our love, joy, etc. Let's say I go to a tree and grab an apple. It is the best looking apple on the tree and I know it will be delicious. I bite into the apple and it is rotten on the inside.

My vision deceived me. The inside of the fruit was rotten even if the outside looked right. Jesus continues to point out that what matters most is the intention of a person's heart. Inevitably, the heart dedicated to God will bear good fruit and the heart dedicated to sin will bear rotten fruit, even if it looks good in the world's eyes. 

1. Why do you think we easily fall into false teaching? 

2. What are some tangible ways we can test the teaching we hear to see if it is from false prophets?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com

The Hard Road

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who

 enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14.

Our lives are very often built around comfort. We fill up our time with activities that provide the absence of pain as much as possible. We work so that we can vacation. We save so that we can retire and travel. We buy the newest and best so that we may fit in with those around us. Everywhere we go, the world is screaming "Do what's best for you! Think about yourself! You deserve it!"

I believe that the American church has grown stale over the past several years because we have been caught up in the trappings of wealth and prosperity and as such, we have lost sight of the fact that Jesus did not call us to an easy road. Paul said "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings..." (Philippians 3:10). Do we really grasp that the Christian life was not designed to be a life of ease and comfort? 

Lest we think that we will constantly be downtrodden and that everyone feel sorry for us, we must remember that the narrow gate and the hard way lead to life. And what a life it is! 

"You make known to me the path of life (the narrow gate and the hard road); in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 

1. In what ways are we tempted by the world to follow the easy way?

2. How have you seen God work in your life to help you pursue his life via the hard road?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com