Matthew has 5 references: Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Matthew 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Careful or wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense.
Scripture has much to say about being PRUDENT: Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproofis prudent. Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. Proverbs 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Matthew 11:25 (Luke 10:21) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written (Isaiah 29:14), I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
The meaning of MIRACLE is an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.
The Lord Jesus preformed many miracles as he walked the earth, all to prove that He was Israel’s Messiah. And He promised to all Jews who believed in Him: Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; The Apostle Paul told believer’s what would be in their lives: (He never says Miracle) Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 1 Corinthians 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: Philippians 4:4-8Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Do Miracles occur today? That’s open to your interpretation of events in your life. Reread the above verses. Then thank God for salvation and His working in your life as you let Him.
The meaning of JOY is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight.
To the Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote of JOY: Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. In his second letter, after they fixed their problems, the Apostle Paul wrote of JOY; to the Church at Corinth . 2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. 2 Corinthians 2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 2 Corinthians 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. And to the Galatian church he lists Joy a one of the fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, The Apostle Paul expressed the Joy he felt toward the Philippian church: Philippians 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, Philippians 1:25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; Philippians 2:2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:17-18 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. To the Church at Colossi, the Apostle Paul wrote Colossians 1:11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Joy comes from the Lord: 1 Thessalonians 1:6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; He greatly loved Timothy, his spiritual son: 2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; And to Philemon, His brother in the Lord: Philemon 1:7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Philemon 1:20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
There may be sadness all around us, but if you are saved, you can still have Joy in your heart, knowing you will be in eternity forever with the Lord. Look what the apostle Paul had to endure. Romans 10:9-13
Study of the Bible, God’s Word, is interesting and fun. Such as looking for phrases such as this one, “It Is Enough”. When Jacob (Israel) discovers his favorite son (Joseph) is alive: Genesis 45:28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. When Pharaoh had been experiencing the plagues, he said to Moses: Exodus 9:28 Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. God stayed the angel from destroying Jerusalem 2 Samuel 24:16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite. 1 Chronicles 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Elijah fleeing from Queen Jezebel: 1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. The horseleach has two daughters, always crying, “Give, Give.” These “daughters” are things that resemble the leech in never being satisfied. The writer then lists not just two but three and even four insatiable things with voracious appetites: Proverbs 30:15-16The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. The Lord Jesus is in structing the 12 as he sends them out: Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? As the Lord Jesus was about to be betrayed: Mark 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. During His final instruction to His disciples: Luke 22:38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
It is enough that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins and salvation!
Simply stated The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He died for our sins, He was buried, He rose from the grave after 3 days and 3 nights and that HE IS GOD. Romans 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospelof his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospelof Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 15:19Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospelof Christ. Romans 15:29And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospelof Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospelof Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospelof Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 2 Corinthians4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospelof Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospelof Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 2 Corinthians10:14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospelof Christ: Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospelof Christ. Philippians 1:27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospelof Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 1 Thessalonians 3:2And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospelof Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospelof our Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospelofyour salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, It is explained in: Romans 10:9-13That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Isaiah 52:7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Ephesians 6:15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Yes, while Peter and Paul were alive on the earth, there were two Gospels: One to the Jew (circumcision) Peter, and another to the Gentiles (uncircumcision) Paul. Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; The Jew (circumcised) was to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was their Messiah. The Gentile (uncircumcised) was to confess (out loud) that the Lord Jesus Christ was God and that he died, was buried, and rose again. Then, during Paul’s Ministry it changed: Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Romans 3:22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Is only found in 2 of the 4 Gospels: Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. The Kingdom the Lord Jesus presented was the 1000 years when He shall rule over the Earth. Apply the rule:Who said it and to whom was it spoken to! The Lord Jesus said it …to the Jew. The Apostle Paul (Apostle to the Gentiles, Church) never mentions the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God DOES NOT apply to the Church (Believer’s)! But there is a kingdom for believer’s today: a spiritual kingdom. Colossians 1:13-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Ron Rhodes, Theology Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, offers this bite-sized definition of the Kingdom of God: “God’s present spiritual reign over His people (Colossians 1:13) and Jesus’ future reign in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20).”
Old Testament scholar Graeme Goldsworthy summarized the Kingdom of God in even fewer words as, “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule.”
Joy is: Being in God’s will Being Faithful Being a fruitful Branch Being a Soul Winner
Fullness of Joy Psalm 16:11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Shall reap in JoyPsalm 126:5-6They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The Lord Jesus used Parables to teach about Joy: Enter into the Joy of the LordMatthew 25:21,23His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord…. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He spoke to His Apostles where their joy would come from: Joy may be fullJohn 15:11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
The Lord Jesus warned His Apostles sorrow was coming BUT it would be turned into Joy: Sorrow shall be turned to JoyJohn 16:19-22Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And it still applies today. When we believe in the death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and confess that Jesus is God (Romans 10:9) sorrow is lifted. And each time we feel low, sorrow, all we need to is take it to Him in Prayer in faith, trusting is Him. As Paul wrote: 1 Timothy 2:1-5I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
