Presents
Pamphlet #4405b
Presents
Pamphlet #4405b
My
Hi-lite: Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened unto you:
8
For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9
Or what man is there of you, whom if
his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him
a serpent?
11
If ye then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which
is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12
¶Therefore all things whatsoever
ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is
the law and the prophets.
13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15
Beware of false prophets, which come
to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns,
or figs of thistles?
17
Even so every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18
A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19
Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Now here is another extremely important thing to understand and teach to others regarding "seeking first the kingdom of heaven".
You must do some work to seek the kingdom of heaven and unfortunately there seems to be but few people who are willing to do that! Remember, it is not the multitudes who go privately to Christ to hear His voice, but rather His disciples who hunger and thirst after righteousness, i.e. truth. You see, there are many people (multitudes of them) who go to church, but there are actually few of them who seek and study the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:25) on a daily basis and ask Him for their daily bread that they might receive pearls of wisdom.Matthew7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
But the good news is that our Father is not a respecter of persons and He promises that whosoever will come to Him and "ask, and seek, and knock" shall receive those pearls of wisdom and find the true path that leads to life and the door to the kingdom of heaven shall be opened to them.
Again, this is how one seeks the kingdom of God, not how one petitions God to obtain material things? If you are too lazy or not at all interested in asking, seeking, and knocking, then you will eventually find that Christ will close the door in your face when He returns. You see, there are "wise virgins" and there are "foolish virgins" (Mat. 25) who lack "wisdom" because they lack the knowledge of His Word. They don't ask, seek, or knock![8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
God PROMISES to give you wisdom liberally if you are willing to do some labor in the field. Christ now gives us two examples of what to ask for, bread and meat.James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
This is obvious in the natural sense where even a non-believer would not give his son a stone if he were hungry and asked for bread to eat! On the spiritual level, which is what Christ is talking about, if you (a son of God) ask your Father for the true "bread of life", Jesus Christ, the Word of God, He will give you that bread and will not place a "stumbling stone" before you that will cause you to stumble and fall in these last days, which "falling" is called the great apostasy (2 Thes. 2).Matthew 7:9
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
A fish is symbolic of Christianity and also of meat. If you ask for your Father to show you the deeper truths of His Word, He will not give you a serpent who will bite you! You see, the serpent is symbolic of antichrist who is the old serpent, the dragon, the devil, who is Satan the false messiah. Those who have the "seal of God", the knowledge of His Word, in their foreheads in this final generation shall not stumble but shall overcome the beast, i.e. antichrist and his New World Order.stone = G3037 lithos lee'-thos[10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively):—(mill-, stumbling-) stone.
Our Father loves to pour out His blessings upon His children... and if we know and understand that, then as His children and His servants we should be generous and liberal in the same pouring out of His spirit to others![11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?
Christ now "sums up" the Sermon on the Mount beginning with what we call the "Golden Rule" which sums up the last five of the Ten Commandments all of which He covered in this Sermon on the Mount.[12] Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
James calls it the "Royal Law" and how "honorable" it is indeed.Romans 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Are you able to "see" and "hear" all the things Christ has taught His disciples on the mount? He has compared the attitudes, the doctrines, the methods of conduct and methods of teaching between those who claim to be His disciples and teachers and those who actually are! The distinction clearly shows the difference between "religion", which is what churchianity is, and "reality", which is what Christianity is. You "see", they are two different paths altogether!James 2:8
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Yes, there are two gates and two paths to follow! Churchianity and the traditions of men is the broad way which the multitudes follow and the Word of God, true Christianity, is the narrow way which leads to life. The fact is, if you don't "ask and seek and knock", but rather just listen to men, then you are going to stumble in the great apostasy.Matthew 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The majority of Christians think that they are on the right path. The problem is that they have allowed themselves to be deceived by the many false prophets Christ warned us about in Mat. 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 who would come in this final generation. In fact, in our next study we will see that He also warns us right here in Mat. 7 about those same false prophets, those hypocritical teachers who are not really teachers of God's Word at all... for they follow the broad path of the traditions of men and never quite get around to teaching our Father's Word whereby our people can enter in at the straight gate. Remember, ALL wisdom comes from the Word of God.How much of it have you studied?Are you among the few "wise" virgins who study and understand our Father's ways and walk in them or are you on some other path along with the multitudes who will stumble in darkness for lack of "wisdom"? Think about it.way = G3598 hodos hod-os'[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively a mode or means:—journey, (high-) way.
Jesus Christ explained to us that the gate is wide and the path is broad which leads to destruction and there are many which go in there (Mat. 7:13). You see, there is only one true Shepherd and one gate into His sheepfold and that way, that door, is Jesus Christ, the Word of God (Jn. 10:9). In other words, you cannot get there simply by going to church or participating in religious ceremonies or worship services or by following any other path such as the broad gamut of the traditions of men. Therefore, the very fact that we are a nation of Biblical illiterates documents that Christ words are true, for "the many" are led astray from the true, lush, green pastures of His word to be taken prey by the wolves, the false prophets, who rob and steal for self gain while causing the spiritual death of our people.Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
And so it is that as Jesus Christ concludes His "Teaching on the Mount", He gives a stern warning to His disciples concerning fake preachers and then closes with a few words of great wisdom about how to be one of the "wise" in this final generation who shall be able to withstand the onslaught of the great spiritual tribulation of antichrist!John 10:9-10
I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Here is that most important warning:
Did you know that the very first sign and warning Christ gave to His disciples when they asked Him on Mount Olivet what signs to look for and how to determine the "when" of the final generation just before His return, was to beware of false prophets (Mat. 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6, Luke 21: 8)?Matthew 7:15-29
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
So "Take Heed" and stay away from "pseudopreachers" who are would-be teachers of God's Word! They have the appearance of being Christian ministers and preachers, etc., but they have another agenda which is usually to devour the flock for profit or self-glorification. You can usually tell their intent after listening to them for a little while because it seems they always get around to talking about what is foremost on their minds.Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
So do NOT let appearances, one's outer garment, deceive you.G5578 pseudoprophetes psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace
From G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor:—false prophet.
A true teacher of God's Word will always tell you to stay in the Word of God and document and test the things that you hear taught by man, because unfortunately there are many more false teachers than there are true in this final generation. 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." A teacher of God's Word will also explain to you the difference between the holy and the profane and how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
Even in the Millennium God's elect will teach these differences and cause people to exercise spiritual discernment: Ezekiel 44:23 "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
If after you have done your due diligence and found that what you heard was written in God's Word, then you know with certitude that He has spoken it and only then can you "go with it"! Otherwise, be very wary of those who tell you God told them this or that![27] Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.[28] And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
So how do you tell a true "shepherd" from a look-alike "wolf". How do you tell one who is sent from God and one who isn't? John 3:34 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." So take heed, for if you are one of His disciples you not only need to know how to tell the difference for yourself but also how to teach others to "beware of false prophets". To that end, Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher of all time, makes it very simple for us as He begins with an analogy of nature itself. Fruit! Hey, you simply test the "fruit" and then you will know what kind of tree it came from!
The point is, the fruit that you "pluck" from a tree tells you what kind of tree it is and you know what else? If you can discern the fruit you don't even have to see the tree itself to know what kind it is, do you?Matthew 7:16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
One of the very first lessons we learn in the Word of God is that there are two different trees from which one can obtain "fruit" to eat. However, one of them you need to beware of and stay away from.G2590 karpos kar-pos'[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Probably from the base of G726; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively:— fruit.
Both the Tree of Life, who is Jesus Christ, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, who is Satan, were in the midst of the garden. Yes, the story from the beginning, which is a matter of life and death, is to make sure you do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unless you want to lose your spiritual virginity in like manner as Eve lost her physical virginity to the old serpent, who is Satan, the devil (Rev. 12:9), the false messiah, the fake (other) Jesus, the corrupt tree that shall be hewn down and cast into the lake of fire. To wit, false prophets stem from that false tree and the Jesus they preach is not our Jesus but "another one" (see below), the false one, the false messiah. Paul warned us about this same thing:Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life (Jesus) also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Satan).Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Paul was concerned that some might put up with those who preach "another Jesus". Don't receive spirits (doctrines) without first testing the fruit... which is what Christ is explaining to us.2 Cor. 11:2-4
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is that good tree, the Tree of Life. Satan, the other Jesus who is preached, is the corrupt tree and no good fruit can come from him. And Satan's ministers who only appear as messengers of righteousness, even as Satan appeared to Eve as a knowledgeable one who could explain what God really meant when He said "Thou shalt surely die!", also often misquote the Word of God or twist it to conform to the traditions of men. What shall their end be?Matthew 7:18
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Remember, in the Bible Trees are symbolic of and represent people!
Their end is this:2 Cor. 11:14-15
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Such is the fate that awaits the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which deceives the whole world. Rev. 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone...". Again, how do you tell the difference between the holy tree and the profane tree? Test the fruit of the tree with the fruit detector, the Word of God. After awhile, you'll notice there really are a lot of fruitcakes running around.Matthew 7:19
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Isn't that a very simple thing? When you listen to a tree and you pluck the fruit from it, squeeze the fruit by checking it out in God's Word before you eat it. Then you will know if it comes from the Tree of Life or the poisonous Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In other words, if what you
have plucked are nothing but the traditions of men, like stories about
snakes and apples, and rapture theories, and Easter bunnies, etc., then
you are barking up the wrong tree!
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