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Avoid Sins Christ Spoke Against

An attitude of service is necessary: Mat 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them aside and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.' " (Also Mar 10:45).

The Rich Man and Lazarus story warns us to wisely manage material wealth God has given us and be mercyful: Luk 16:19-25, "Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20 And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. And the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he {the rich man} was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.' 25 But Abraham answered, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.' "

Use wisdom and believe the writings of the prophets as you reach out to help others: Luk 16:26-31, " 'And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.' 27 'Then I beg you, father,' he said, 'send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.' 30 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 Then Abraham said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.' " Jas 4:17, "Therefore, if anyone knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

Greedy people trust in wealth. They do NOT trust in God for provision. We need to "lay up treasures in heaven." Mat 6:24, "No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Do not worry anxiously as Gentiles worry. Mat 6:31-33, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."

When we offer to help others, God knows us and looks upon our heart, mind, and actions: Mar 12:41-44, "As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. 43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.' "

We are not to be selfish, and we are commanded do not covet in: Exo 20:17, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Those who covet might end up stealing! Isa 10:1-2, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder."

Because of our sins, innocent Jesus was crucified along with criminals, yet we have been forgiven much: Luk 23:33-34, " …Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” …" We also must be forgiving: Mat 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours."

We are warn to have a forgiving attitude in: Mat 18:21-27, "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?' 22 Jesus answered, I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! 23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. 25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. 26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. 'Have patience with me,' he begged, 'And I will pay back everything.' 27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him."

If you have been forgiven; why not have forgiveness on others: Mat 18:28-35, "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master. 32 Then the master summoned him and declared, 'You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. 35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

There is no excuse for hate! Hate is Satanic: Joh 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." It is wrong to proceed from anger to hate: Mat 5:21-22, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not murder' and 'Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be subject to the fire of hell."

Settle problems in a godly way before penalties occur: Mat 5:23-26, "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

Disobedience is to be avoided! True Blessedness is to Hear and Obey God <LINK, because it pleases Him! Luk 11:28, "But He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.' " Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit – To those who obey! Joh 14:15-17, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive it, because it neither sees it nor knows it. But you do know it, for it abides with you and will be in you.

The Parable of the Two Sons Tells Us – God wants action, "NOT lip service!" Mat 21:28-32, "But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 'I will not,' he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. 'I will, sir,' he said. But he did not go. 31 'Which of the two did the will of his father?' 'The first,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did {believe John}. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.' "

Don't fall into the trap of judging, condemning others. Such judgment has serious consequences! Don't miss the opportunity to witness to "the little ones" God may be calling! Jesus choose Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him: Luk 5:27-32, "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. 'Follow Me,' He told him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him. 29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus' disciples, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' 31 Jesus answered, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.' "

Don't be a judging hypocrite: Mat 7:1-6, "Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Use godly wisdom as you interact with others for they will be known by their fruits! Jas 4:10-12, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11 Brothers, do not slander one another. … 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"

Wrong thoughts are evil and defile a person thus leading to sinful actions that may lead to death. Mar 7:14-19, "Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, 'All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15 Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.' 17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable. 18 'Are you still so dull?' He asked. 'Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.' (Thus all foods are clean.) {a false editorial comment}."

Guard you thoughts because they become your actions and deeds: Mar 7:20-23, "He continued: 'What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. 21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23 All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.' "

Our prayer is, to be clean and undefiled before God: Luk 9:62, "Then Jesus declared, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back at the things behind, is fit for the kingdom of God.' " Psa 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting." Psa 51:9-13, "Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You."

Avoid Sins Christ Spoke Against

"©" February 2025, Ekklesia Church of God - New Covenant Saints

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