Here is a scripture that has been on my mind for some days now; Mathew 5:20…..

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:20 NKJV

To understand the context of this text, see 3 prior verses…

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17‭-‬19 NKJV

Summay: practice what you preach!

Why did Jesus direct this hard saying to the Scribes and Pharisees?

The Scribes and Pharisees had great influence on the Jewish people. The Scribes interpret the law, while the Pharisees teach the law. It goes without saying therefore that both the Scribes and Pharisees had good knowledge of the law.

This doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me, but somehow Jesus was never pleased with the two groups of leaders. They did not gain Jesus’s admiration at all.

Problem was; that though these people understood the law, held very extreme views on holiness and righteousness, however, they lived nothing like what they knew or taught.

Matthew 23:27-28, probably captures Jesus’s feelings towards the Pharisees…….

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27‭-‬28 NKJV

Jesus thought these religious leaders were inwardly corrupt and wicked but outwardly or professedly virtuous or holy. They were hypocrites; teaching one thing and living another.

Now recognize that Matthew 5:20 wasn’t addressed to the Scribes and Pharisees but to Jesus’s followers. And the Lord’s admonition to them remains valid for all His followers today…..

……Know the Word…..Teach the Word, …….Do the Word…..Live the Word.

It is not uncommon to understand Matthew 5: 20 as meaning; ‘work harder in order to achieve a higher level of righteousness than the Scribes and Pharisees’. Hence the need for us to remind ourselves that in the new covenant, righteousness is a free gift that is received by faith (Romans 5:17); we were created in righteousness (Ephesians 4:22‭-‬24), and we receive the free gift of righteousness by faith (Philippians 3:9).

Knowing that we are righteous, is one thing, living as the righteous is another (II Corinthians 7:1, I Peter 1:15‭-‬16).

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

This is what Matthew 5:20 is saying to us….Live out who you identify as and profess to be, knowing it alone is just not good enough. We should not be Christians only in our Churches or only among other believers or only on Church days. We are to be light in a dark world and seasoning for a largely godless generation.

The Scribes and Pharisees knew about righteousness (through the law), but they lived nothing like it.

We are not to be like the Scribes and Pharisees.

God wanted Paul to use the grace available to him to tackle the irritating spirit- cast it away, resist it, shut it down, etc, it was totally within Paul’s ability to handle this irritating spirit. Little wonder he received a ‘no’ response 3 times from the Lord. What God was really saying was….you handle it.

Should christian counsellors charge for their services/ministry work? This has been a long debated topic and while I can understand that it isn’t cheap to own and run a counselling platform of any sort, here is what I eventually heard in my Spirit as I spent days thinking about whether I should have charged the young lady described above.
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One of the important points made in What Is My Purpose In Life? is that God had a purpose in mind before creating anyone (Jeremiah 1:5). God-given purposes are therefore best accomplished in and with God (John 15:5).

A Dream and a Purpose

In the context of this write-up, a dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or idea. A purpose on the other hand, is the reason for which something is created or the reason for which something exists.

When discovered and accepted, a purpose influences life decisions, offers a sense of direction and gives meaning to life.

So while a dream originates from an individual, a purpose is determined (predetermined) by a Creator or Manufacturer. And while a personal dream may not always be one’s purpose, a purpose can very much become a dream when it is discovered, accepted and committed to.

Sometimes, a purpose can be connected to a vocation or personal ambition. For example, I have colleagues who I believe are called to be doctors. I don’t see them doing anything else than giving care and hope to people through medicine. They are good at it. they enjoy it, they are settled in it.

In accomplishing a dream or a purpose one needs more than head knowledge.

Building on sure foundation

In their book, ‘Built To Last‘ James Collins and Jerry Porras provide a master blueprint for building long lasting and prosperous organizations. And in Luke 6:46-49, Jesus teaches that the way to ensure a sure foundation is to build on Him.

The strength of a building is its foundation. The foundation serves to hold the structure above it and keep it upright. A building without a solid foundation is most likely to collapse in adverse circumstances. There is always a temptation to hurriedly get to the top, become the recognized owner of a building or an enterprise, to establish a presence, make a name, become known. Nothing wrong with that if we are moving at God’s speed and if we have a solid foundation (in God). But you know, going through the proper process that leads to the top prepares someone to be comfortably seated at the top; well equipped to withstand adverse circumstances. Don’t jump the process, build on a sure foundation; build on the Word, follow the leading of the Spirit.

Our faith is not substantiated by human systems but by God’s system. Hearing and doing the Word is a sure foundation. Being led by the Holy Spirit is a sure foundation.

Build according to the Word, according to God’s pattern. Only then will you be built to last.

If we find our purpose in God, we will also become established in it, in God.

I don’t know how reading this makes you feel, but for me I am reassured that every stage of my life, every day of my life and every moment of my life are continually before God. I have absolutely nothing to worry about. I will not sit on the motion-less rocking chair of worry. If I trust God and walk with Him, like the good Father that He is, He will keep me away from destruction, He will preserve, protect and provide for me.

If you are ever in doubt of what makes the list of Acts of God, John 10:10 would help you…
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

A time of captivity is not a time to amass wealth. It is certainly not a time for marriage ceremonies, baby showers, or baby christening. For one, a captive is more likely to be hatching an escape plan than indulge in such social exigencies. Two, you really don’t want to offend or threaten your captors else they give you more hell.
“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.“

You know, as I thought about the uneventful ‘disappearance’ of the poisonous serpents, I realized that actually that is how life problems ‘pass away‘ as we move our focus away from them and fix them instead on Jesus and His Word. Suddenly, the pain stops, suddenly the lump is no more, suddenly your marriage is restored.

All of Your peace. All of the healing You bought for me. All of Your manifest provision and abundance, to accomplish the job You have entrusted to my care. That Your people may know You Jesus. And that they may know the Father. That they may appreciate the dept of Your great love with which You loved them. That they may find hope, love and peace in You. All of You Jesus. Until my job is done.

The Epistles constitute letters written to the early Churches in different locations. As Christians, these letters are directed at us as well. From these letters we learn about our identity, rights and privileges in Christ, etc. So Christians are to live on the new testament (especially the epistles).

As true as that is, we cannot deny that we still learn a lot of lessons from the old testament. Most practices of the old testament may be obsolete but the principles remain timeless and still applies to us today.

Second Kings 8:1-13 is an interesting old testament scripture. It is a really long portion of scripture but it made an interesting and insightful read to me …..

“And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord : “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.” So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. And when he arrived, there were the captains of the army sitting; and he said, “I have a message for you, Commander.” Jehu said, “For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, Commander.” Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord , over Israel. You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord , at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free. So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. ’ ” And he opened the door and fled. Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “ Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble.” And they said, “A lie! Tell us now.” So he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord : “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ ” Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!” “
II Kings 9:1‭-‬13 NKJV

There is just so much being said about anointing in this passage..

Through the Bible we find 3 groups of persons who were anointed in a similar way as Jehu; Priests, Prophets and Kings.

Some of the applications of the term ‘anointing/anointed‘ in the Bible include; for consecrating a place, a vessel, a body before burial, or as a tradition following a wash.

The process of becoming anointed as narrated for Jehu is quite different from how Jesus was anointed. For one, there was no physical pouring of oil on Jesus’s head by any prophet. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost by God Himself…..

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Acts 10:38 NKJV

This was a special form of anointing different from what upheld in the old testament. However, despite the obvious differences in the method of the anointing of Jesus and Jehu, we see similarities in the events that follow someone’s anointing…

Jehu was as much God’s choice for His people at the time he was anointed as Jesus was. So although Jehu received the pouring of oil on the head by a prophet (while Jesus did not), Jehu was first chosen by God.

There is just so much we can glean from Jehu’s story. When God anoints you….

1. He Separates you.

2. He promotes and honors you.

3 He puts you over a territory with a specific assignment.

4. He gives you authority and power.

5. He gives you influence

6. He defends you.

“Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” “
Psalms 105:15 NKJV

7. He sets you up for celebration.

Well then, who is qualified to receive these privileges? Anyone who is anointed by God!

As Christians we receive the same anointing as Jesus did when we become baptized by the Holy Spirit.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
II Corinthians 1:21‭-‬22 NKJV

Have you located your territory? Are you wielding your authority and exercising your power? Are you assured of the special protection available to those chosen of God?

The purpose of the anointing is to make power available for good works to be done. Don’t waste it..

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 KJV

When God anoints you, you have power to witness for Christ.