Gospel Songs

I am the Lord that healed thee
I am the Lord
Your healer
I sent my Word and healed your disease
I am the Lord
Your healer. Amen

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Pictures Of Jesus

To be rich, is not what you have in your bank account, but what you have in your heart.

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THE HARD WORDS OF JESUS

A few years ago I realized something deeply disturbing: the Jesus most people talk about in the twenty-first century is not the Jesus of the Bible. Today’s fake version of Jesus is more like a doll or a teddy bear or a fluffy bunny. He is not the Almighty Christ talked about in the New Testament. The new Jesus is nothing more than a cheap invention of modern sentimentalism’s chief policy: “Do not offend anyone! Just love, love, love…!”

This morning I went through Matthew’s Gospel underlining every “hard” word Jesus spoke and I was astonished to find so many quotes that would be condemned by today’s sugary brand of faith as “intolerant”, “harsh”, “judgmental” or just downright “unloving”. There are far too many quotes to even begin a serious study. But let me offer you a selection of some of the fiercest of the words that Jesus used when confronting His enemies. Remember: I’m quoting directly from Jesus’ words in the Scriptures. There are no human add-ons here…

1.- Repent! (Matthew 4:17)

Jesus’ public ministry began with the watchword of John the Baptist. It wasn’t love, love, love! But repent, repent, repent! This radical message of repentance explains why Jesus said He came to bring a sword (and not peace) so that whole families would be divided because of Him (10:35-38). “If you don’t love me more than everything else,” reasons Jesus, “you are not worthy of me!”

2.- Clear off! (Matthew 4:10; 16:23)

On two occasions Jesus tells the devil “get behind me” and “get hence”. In contemporary terms: “Clear off, Satan! Take a hike!” He didn't dialogue with the devil. He told him where to go. Full stop! Doesn't sound too tolerant, does it?

3.- Beware of judgment! (Matthew 5:22, etc. Too many to mention)

As I read through Matthew it became ever so clear that Jesus’ key message is that judgment is coming soon. It was as if condemnation was never off His mind whilst He was preaching. I jotted down dozens of texts where Jesus warns His followers and others in no uncertain terms to get serious about following God. Just take a read through the book yourself and you’ll see what I mean. He is coming! So get ready!

4.- Insults!

Jesus’ lips are full of fierce insults for the enemies of the Kingdom of God. “Hypocrites” is a term that appears throughout the whole Gospel (fifteen times). Then there are the two related terms “snakes” and “vipers”. Add to that list “blind fools”, “blind guides”, “wicked”, “perverse”, “evil” and “cursed” and you’ll start to see what Jesus thought of the devil’s servants. Who would dream of speaking like that nowadays? The Barbie Jesus of the twenty-first century sure wouldn't!

5.- Darkness and gnashing of teeth!

I counted six threats regarding “darkness and gnashing of teeth” pronounced by Jesus in Matthew (8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). Whatever hell must be like, it sure isn’t going to be pretty. The Lord tried to convey something of the torment that will afflict all of the reprobate eternally. Sometimes the word “fire” is used as well in these passages to emphasis the severity of the suffering.

6.- Woe!

The word “woe!” sends shivers down my spine. It was just about the harshest word a Jew could utter. To proclaim a woe upon someone or something meant to curse them in the severest of terms. Jesus proclaims “woe!” more than ten times in the Gospel (fourteen to be exact). Woe to the Pharisees! Woe to the scribes! Woe to the one who betrays the Son of man- it would be better for him not to have been born! Woe to the world!, etc.

7.- You won’t be forgiven! (Matthew 6:15; 12:32)

Jesus also makes it very clear that there will be no forgiveness for two types of people: 1) those who refuse to forgive others; and 2) those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit. It’s that simple. Jesus makes no false promises. He preached with holy zeal!

8.- You’re better off tying a rock around your neck! (Matthew 18:6)

One final “unloving” word from the biblical Jesus is found in Matthew 18:6 when Jesus warns folk about offending children. “Whosoever offends one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea!” (Matthew 18:6). Jesus was no fairy. He didn't live in a magical bubble. He warned, He exhorted and He admonished in the name of the Lord.

Conclusion

I hope this goes some way to dispelling the twenty-first century myth about Jesus. He is not a doll or a teddy or a fluffy bunny. He is the eternal Judge made manifest in flesh. There are so many more texts that I could add from Matthew’s Gospel; but this article will serve as a starter. We must not be ashamed of the biblical Jesus. “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him also will I deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). So if we’re going to follow Jesus, let’s make sure He’s the correct One… 

Will Graham

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TEN MARKS OF A FALSE PROPHET

False prophets are everywhere nowadays. So, how can we identify them? Allow me to help you…

1.- A false prophet denies that God is triune i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2.- A false prophet denies Jesus’ divinity and/ or humanity and/ or resurrection.

3.- A false prophet denies that man is conceived in iniquity and sin.

4.- A false prophet denies that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.

5.- A false prophet denies that Scripture is inspired by God.

6.- A false prophet is only concerned about getting glory for himself i.e. fortune and fame.

7.- A false prophet doesn't live in private what he preaches in public.

8.- A false prophet never mentions sin or any other ‘uncomfortable’ issue.

9.- A false prophet abuses the people of God and those helpers he has round about him.

10.- A false prophet never listens to the rebukes, instruction and corrections of others. He cannot be taught.

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HARD WORKING CHRISTIANS

Have you ever noticed that the first verb associated with God in the Bible is ‘create’? “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

This means that the God of the Bible is an active God who is constantly at work. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord is not lazy. He is diligent, hardworking and thorough.

But not only is God the Father active. So is God the Son. He came to seek and rescue the lost. He too is an industrious Saviour who ever intercedes for us at the right hand of God. And then there is God the Holy Spirit who never ceases to point creation God-wards and Christ-wards by means of confirming the preaching of the Gospel with assurance and conviction.

The "triune" God of Scripture is a working God. Therefore any man who desires to reflect the nature of God must be a hard worker (or, as we say in the UK, a grafter).

Paul was incensed when he found out that some of the Thessalonian believers were not grafters but lazy busybodies (or, as we say in the UK, nosey parkers). He told the church: “Study to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). But when some of the church didn’t pay attention to the apostle’s exhortation, he wrote a second letter to the Thessalonians in even fiercer terms telling the saints to separate themselves from any idle person who professed the name of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). “Have no company with such folk!” exclaimed Paul.

The apostolic principle is that Christians are called to work- to work hard and to hard work. Thus they give glory to God because that way they reflect something of the image and likeness of the Lord who gifted them with creation and redemption. There should be no such thing as a lazy believer. 

By  Will Graham

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