GSC MODULE 55: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: A LIGHT BEGINS TO SHINE [PART II]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 55

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
A LIGHT BEINGS TO SHINE [PART II]

THE THIRD BEATITUDE AS TAUGHT BY CHRIST EXPLAINS THE BLISS OF THE GOD-CONTROLLED LIFE.

Jesus proclaimed, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." [Matthew 5:5].
'Meek' might seem to suggest subservience, possible lack of courage.
A dictionary definition describes the word as 'quiet, gentle and easily imposed upon, submissive'.
The quality of meekness is not one highly valued in competitive pursuits.
However, we are clearly told that meekness is one of the great values of the Kingdom of God.

Placing our lives under God's control
Lack of self control may lead to various consequences.
Hasty temper, harsh words, the placing of personal ambitions and needs above that of others, unconsidered pursuit of passions of the moment, a thought life in turmoil and lack of serenity, a willingness to carry out deeds of moral demerit in pursuit of wealth, prestige, status and fame.
These attributes are ones which are not unfamiliar to humanity.
It is possible that many - if not all - have at some point been challenged by personal temptation.

What Christ is pointing out is that the beatitude teaching proves blessed the one with every instinct, impulse, and passion under control.
And not only under personal control, but under God control.
Living our lives with thoughtful discernment as to whether our impulses are in line with the teaching of God prevents many tragedies and tears while on earth.
The true Christian is called upon to live a decent, honourable life. 
The believer is not to murder, disrespect, lie, break others' hearts by poor or unfaithful behaviour.
The disciple of Jesus is to honour God, stay far from envy and lack of forgiveness, keep watchful self control on inner impulses and passions and purify personal emotions.
This beatitude thus calls us to place our lives under God's control.

When we surrender our lives to the template of God's teachings, something starts to happen within us.
The yeast of Christ's teaching begins to ferment in the unleavened dough of our inner selves, and action ensues.
We begin to change in ways we never thought possible, and not through our own doing.
No, God is at work within us, changing us slowly into beings of light and love.

We move from lack of self control in the passions which are every human being's heritage, to growing mastery over self as we grow in prayer life and trust in God.
This is the work which Jesus Christ has begun in us, and which He will continue until it is completed.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words." [Romans 8:26].

Deep Strength
Meekness, far from being an attribute of weakness, is one of incredible strength.
It is all too easy to retort to an insult; to avenge a wrong; to fight for justice and cause further injustice in the melee.
It takes a mature and strong person to master feelings of indignation, anger, revenge and hatred; then to channel personal emotional energy in difficult circumstances into godly deeds and forgiveness.

Meekness denotes humility, the acceptance of the necessity to learn and of the necessity to be forgiven.
Meekness describes humanity's only proper attitude to God.
For it is true that each of us has our self image, and this is a blessing.

However, if our self image becomes inflated with self importance to the point of lack of respect for God and our fellow human beings, then this is the point at which meekness should be sought.
Meekness is the ultimate reality; the realization of our true role in the scheme of things.

We have a period of time to live out our life. 
Our life should not be in the spirit of self-aggrandisement or lack of gratitude to God for the gifts He has given us.
We need to bow our heads in thankfulness to our God Who has given us - not only life - but so many blessings.
The very sunrise each morning is a miracle, with the promise of a new day; fresh air to breathe, water to drink, food to grow, friendships to rejoice in, God to love.

Moses the meek
The great leader Moses was acknowledged as being very meek - humble - more than all men that were on the face of the earth. [Numbers 12:3].
The shock of the death of the Egyptian during the defence of the Hebrew slave had left deep trauma within Moses.
This great leader learned in later years to control his inner self and emotions such as anger.
Jesus explains that it is self control, respect for God and for others - meekness - which is blessed.

It is only those with the gift of self-control, those with their passions, instincts and impulses under discipline, who will be considered great in the Kingdom of God.

GSC MODULE 54: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: A LIGHT BEGINS TO SHINE [PART I]

Jesus, the Light of the World [John 18:12]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 54

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
A LIGHT BEGINS TO SHINE [PART I]

AS JESUS WALKED THE DARKNESS OF AN EARTH UNDER SATANIC RULE, SOMETHING MARVELLOUS HAPPENED; THE LIGHT OF THE DIVINITY WITHIN HIM BEGAN TO SHINE ACROSS THE PLANET, PLUCKING AT THE VEILS OF DARKNESS AND FORCING THEM TO LIFT. 

This miraculous event was foretold by the great prophet Isaiah. 
"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine upon them." [Isaiah 9:2]

Prophet Isaiah

Jesus Himself affirmed His Being as the Light of the World which drives away satanic darkness, the Light which illumines the intellect and cures ignorance, the Light which shines upon the secrecy of evil deeds, dispenses justice, forgiveness and change of life.

'Once again Jesus spoke to the people and said,

 "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." ' [John 8:12]

Baptism to Threefold Ministry

Jesus had threefold work. 

He was the Herald bringing the message from our true King, the Lord God.

The duty of the herald is the proclamation of certainties; preaching must always be the proclamation of utter certainties.

Jesus was Teacher; He proclaimed the new gospel certainties according to the Will of God.

Thereafter He shared the significance of these certainties for life and for living.

Jesus was Healer; the new gospel which Jesus brought did not stop at words; it was translated into visible deeds.

Jesus spent most of His time healing the sick, feeding the hungry and comforting the sorrowing.

The Saviour turned the words of Christian truth into deeds of Christian love.

We are not truly Christian until our Christian belief issues in Christian action.

Jesus Christ showed us that religion consists of love. 1

Divine Compassion

When Jesus saw the crowds of desperate people, He was moved with compassion, the strongest form of pity.

Jesus was moved with compassion by the world's pain, for the sick [Matthew 14:14], for the blind [Matthew 20:34], for those in the grip of unlawful demonic possession 
[Mark 9:22].

He healed the lonely leper who had been banished from society because of the dreadful risk of contagion [Mark 1:41].

Jesus was moved to compassion by the tears of a bereaved widow as she was burying her only son [Luke 7:11-17].

He miraculously restored the dead man to life and to the arms of his mother.

Jesus could not see a suffering person but He longed to ease the pain.

Hunger was anathema to Him. He fed the exhausted and hungry crowds who followed Him 

[Matthew 15:32].

Sermon on the Mount

Jesus began a careful construct of teaching designed to strike at the very heart of the malaise that plagued the world.

In the rule of satanic darkness, there is no place for love; no merit accorded to truth, no emphasis placed on justice, no interest in healing, compassion, forgiveness or pity.

Jesus came to bring the rule of God, the values of the Divine, to shine into our lives and change us into light-filled beings of hope and life.

This is, however, a slow process.

Jesus thus settled down to draw up a master plan for humanity to follow to attain this heavenly goal.

Part of the plan were His teachings, now known collectively as 'The Sermon on the Mount'.

This sermon or collection of teachings is so succinct a summary of the heart of all Christ's teachings that it has been called 'The Magna Carta of the Kingdom.'

The Sermon on the Mount is quite possibly the testimony of more than one preaching by Christ, but probably an epitome of all Christ's teachings.

Jesus, as Rabbi, followed the rabbinical ordinances of the day. 

When a Jewish rabbi taught officially, he sat to show the gravity of the words about to be imparted.

As Jesus prepared to teach on the mountain, He made clear the importance of the teaching about to come.

"Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He sat down His disciples came to Him.

And He opened His mouth and taught them."[Matthew 5:1-2]

Blessedness of the Poor in Spirit

Jesus taught that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", [Matthew 5:3].

This blessedness is experienced in the here and now.

This beatitude declares the bliss of following Jesus Christ, of knowing our Saviour.

Those disciples who are content to be poor in spirit, declining to join the race for wealth, prestige and fame, are blessed with untold wealth.

The one who realizes personal helplessness and instead places full trust in God enjoys the fortune of personal relationship with our Divine Parent.

Blessed are the broken hearted

Jesus taught, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [Matthew 5:4].

The word mourning is used in its deepest sense, that of the passionate lament for one who was loved.

Jesus teaches us that sorrow can show us the essential kindness of others and the comfort and compassion of God.

Many in the hour of their sorrow discover others and God as never before.

A deep sorrow can affect us deeply, moving us from the superficial tides in life into a place we had not before known.

We need help when we mourn, as it is a place of darkness, loneliness and tears.

We are blessed when we mourn, because we no longer mourn in isolation.

Centuries ago, before the coming of Christ the Son of God to the world, the individual could turn to God in sorrow.

Now, however, we have the Son of God in our tabernacles in every city, village and community.

We can pour our troubled hearts and grief out to the very One Who has pledged compassion, help and love for humanity.

When we sorrow, we can turn to the Son of God knowing that all promises will be honoured.

We may not know the fullness of joy in this world.

We may experience bereavement which cuts us to our very heart, the sorrow of which never fully heals.

We may experience depths of illness, disability and loss of intellectual and other powers.

But nothing can take from us the sure and powerful knowledge that all these things will eventually pass away, and in our future Kingdom the following will come to pass:

'And I heard a loud voice from the Throne saying: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." '

[Revelation 21:3-4]

1] Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible, Gospel of Matthew Vol 1:CH.1-10. Revised Edition. 1981. Saint Andrew Press; Scotland.

GSC MODULE 53; DYNAMIC CALL TO SALVATION

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 53

DYNAMIC CALL TO SALVATION

JESUS CAME TO EARTH AND MINISTERED BY MEANS OF TEACHINGS, HEALINGS, MIRACLES AND SIGNS, CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP, RESOLUTION OF DOUBT, WARNINGS, AFFIRMATIONS AND RESURRECTION.
In the following series of blog posts you will find some of each category of the Saviour's ministry.

  This is not intended as an exhaustive list but as a synopsis of some of the high points of Christ's ministry.
  We encourage you to read the Scriptures and find more.
  There is no greater joy than drinking from the well of the Gospels.
  'On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!" ' [John 7:37]

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS ON

1) Who is truly blessed in the Eyes of God - the Beatitudes [Matthew 5:1-12]
2) Disciples are to have the strong authenticity of salt and live lives as powerful a witness as a strong light, evident as a large city on the hilltop [Matthew 5:13-16]
3) Jesus comes to perfect the Law, to make it understandable as God wishes it understood, not as humanity interprets it [Matthew 5:17-20]
4) Jesus affirms the sanctity of life and the unholiness of contempt [Matthew 5:21-25]
5) Jesus affirms the sacred bond of marriage is not to be broken, unless there is irreparable breakdown in the case of adultery 
[Matthew 5:27-32]
6) Be truthful. Thus there will be no need of oaths at all 
[Matthew 5:33-37]
7) Don't be vengeful. Develop mildness of character and don't bear grudges. This is not the way of the Kingdom [Matthew 5:38-42]
8) Be kind to all, and forgive the unforgivable. Thus we aim for spiritual perfection, modelled on the perfection of our Divine Parent [Matthew 5:43-48]
9) We are to be generous and help those in need without expectation of reward or return. Furthermore we are to extend this help with pure motive, not seeking fame or societal congratulation [Matthew 6:1-4]
10) We are to be people of devout prayer. Jesus gave us the pattern for all prayer, the Lord's Prayer. 
If we model our lives on the tenets of this prayer pattern, we have the blueprint for all spiritual holiness within one great teaching 
[Matthew 6:5-15]
11) We are to aim for mastery over our own appetite for food, and to do so in prayer communion with God. 
Prudent control with common sense over a simple natural need as our requirement for physical food will train us in self mastery.
This will enable us for the task of further mastery over our physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, societal and financial life aspects. 
By prudent self mastery with common sense we prevent our natural needs or addictions from becoming our master. 
We learn to properly handle our own unique bodily temple of God. "Do you not know that you are God's temple and the God's Spirit dwells in you?"
[1 Corinthians 3:16]
12) We are to value our relationship with God and our heavenly future above earthly money, prestige and status [Matthew 6:19-24]
13] We are to bring our needs before God the Father in prayer, asking for His help with them. 
We are to leave anxiety behind and learn to trust in God. 
God does not give for the future - He gives for today, and teaches us the lesson of ongoing and developing trust in Him.
Thus relationship with our Divine Parent will develop, deepen and grow.
'Give us this day our daily bread':  Jesus has taught us to pray in the Lord's Prayer. 
We have not been taught to pray for tomorrow's bread or bread in fifteen years time. 
We are to live in the moment, with trust and ongoing developing relationship with our Divine Parent [Matthew 6:25-34]
The Israelites in the desert - starving and afraid for the future of their children, gathered more manna than they needed so they could be sure of food on the morrow.
Instead the manna rotted, and they were encouraged to trust in the Divine Parent for their daily needs. [Exodus 16:1-20]
14) We are not to judge others and run the risk of possible emotional cruelty. This is not the Christian way. We are to extend kindness and lack of harshness not only in our actions but also in our thoughts. Thus does our thought life become purified.
[Matthew 7:1-6]
15) We are to trust in God and ask Him to assist us provide for our needs. Our Divine Parent will hear our prayer and answer in the way that is best for us at that particular moment. It must be remembered that God sometimes says no. Good parenting sometimes involves decisions which are for the good of the children, but not always happily received or fully understood at the time.
[Matthew 7:7-12]
16) We are to deliberately choose the gate and road less travelled by humanity, the gate and road pointed out by Jesus Christ. 
The Christian journey is not an easy road. 
God's Way demands self discipline, self sacrifice, service and much love. 
Yet this is the road to eternal life [Matthew 7:13-14]
17) We are to be discerning as to which spiritual leaders we trust. 
Not all spiritual leaders are authentic leaders towards God. 
Our heavenly future is too important to risk by naive trust in false preachers [Matthew 7:15-20]
18) What makes an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ is the faithful carrying out of God's Commandments. 
Those who espouse Christianity but do not live according to God's Way are in danger of not being recognized by Jesus Christ as worthy of His Kingdom when their eternal future is finally at stake 
[Matthew 7:21-23] 
19) Build your life foundation upon God, our Rock and Refuge [Psalm 18:2]. 
Life is tough, many unforeseen things happen and disasters in many forms can strike in this vale of tears. 
Only our trust and faith in God can help us to stand firm at all times despite the travails and tragedies which can befall [Matthew 7:24-27]

DUBLIN IRELAND: REBECCA GOMPERTS OF WOMEN ON WAVES TO SPEAK AT BREAD & ROSES FESTIVAL ON 8th SEPTEMBER 2017; ALLEGED NEWS

The Son of God suffered and died after preaching the Gospel Message, 'Thou shalt not kill'

DUBLIN IRELAND: REBECCA GOMPERTS OF WOMEN ON WAVES AND WOMEN ON WEB IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK ON 8th SEPTEMBER 2017 AT THE BREAD AND ROSES FESTIVAL; ALLEGED NEWS.
The Festival advertised for Friday 8th September and Saturday 9th September will include repeal the 8th focus, according to advertising street billboards and the website. [1]

Abortion
The website states 'Abortion Rights - The Time is Now'.  [1]
  Further speakers scheduled for 8th September 2017 include representative from School Students for Choice and abortion plebiscite activist; Alleged News. [1]
On Saturday 9th September a School Students for Choice workshop is scheduled to take place; Alleged News. [1]
A 'Separate Church and State Rally' is due to take place later in the day; Alleged News. [1]

Women on Waves
In 1999 Rebecca Gomperts founded Women on Waves, an organization which offers abortion in international waters; Alleged News. [2]
Gomperts also runs Women on Web, which delivers abortion pills; Alleged News. [2]

[1] Bread and Roses Festival, Alleged News
http://www.repealeight.ie/event/bread-and-roses-festival/

[2] Rebecca Gomperts: Meet the woman travelling the world delivering abortion drugs by drone: Alleged News
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/rebecca-gomperts-meet-the-woman-travelling-the-world-delivering-abortion-drugs-by-drone-a7052306.html



Courtesy of repealeight.ie and independent.co.uk