Bible Study - Transformed (6) - Transformed by My Choices - Matthew 7:13-27 - July 10, 2016

Bible Study – Transformed (6) – Transformed by My Choices – July 10, 2016

This is lesson six (6) and the final lesson in our series entitled “Transformed: 

My Life in GOD’S Kingdom.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 7:13-27.

Choose to follow JESUS.

All that we have studied in this series applies to every Christian. JESUS was teaching HIS followers and disciples how they were to live as Christians. Living as JESUS taught in HIS sermon on the Mount is mind-boggling and impossible without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Living the true Christian life is only accomplished by the empowering, teaching, enlightenment of the indwelling Holy Spirit through the process of sanctification. At the instant a person receives CHRIST as his or her Savior, he or she is set aside or sanctified to serve GOD. GOD never overrides the will of HIS child to choose. Christians still make choices; that is part of the Spiritual growth and sanctification process.

JESUS was still teaching about GOD’S Kingdom and what a Christian needs to do as a citizen of GOD’S Kingdom.

Let’s read Matthew 7:13-14:

Entering the Kingdom

Choose the path that leads to life in CHRIST.

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

Life is all about choices; ideally making the right choices.

How often do we say, “If only?”

JESUS makes it clear that the world or flesh offers many no brainer choices that look very attractive until we see or discover the result of those choices. JESUS taught that these choices lead to destruction but there is another way. Both ways are choices but one way leads to eternal life and the other to destruction. The question is which way will you choose? JESUS continued HIS teaching. Keep in mind this is GOD’S Son Who is teaching.

Let’s read John 17:1-5: (JESUS was praying to GOD, HIS Father as HE approached HIS passion. HE knew that HIS death was eminent as the scriptures had revealed.)

1 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,

2 for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.

3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ.

4 I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.

5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

Verse 5 reveals and confirms that JESUS left HIS Home in Heaven to come to earth to be born as a human, yet GOD. HE did this just for you and for me. All who choose HIM by placing their faith in JESUS go through the narrow gate that leads to life. Have you made that choice? If not, why not? Has Satan blinded you to think that you will never die physically yet somehow you will get to heaven? Why take that chance when GOD’S Word makes it clear that you can be eternally secure by placing your faith in JESUS and what HE did for just you on the cross at Calvary. The choice is yours to make. Choose wisely!

JESUS continued to teach as we read the next verse.

14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

JESUS makes it clear that there is another way to eternal life but that path is narrow and the road is very difficult. This narrow gate and road leads to life eternal and few find it. Why do few find it?

Which is easier today to follow the crowd or take a stand as a Christian? You know the answer. It is harder to take a stand as a Christian.

JESUS warns all people to watch out because some will attempt to take advantage of the opportunity to offer an easy way to be secure in CHRIST. But are they offering truth?

We are living in a politically correct world. JESUS was teaching that being politically correct is not truth. Do we want truth or error? Many of us find tainted truth pleasing. We want to feel good and the world offers us tainted truth but JESUS reveals that tainted truth is false as we read our next scripture.

Let’s read Matthew 7:15-23:

Choose to live in obedience and bear fruit for CHRIST.

15 "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

16 You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

How do we judge success? Often, it is by the largeness. The largest churches must teach truth. Don’t they? After all they are successful by the world’s standard. They have big buildings and have lots of money. Many do teach the truth but size does not always mean that truth is being taught.

JESUS reveals a way to test truth as we read our next scripture.

17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 So you'll recognize them by their fruit.

What fruit is being produced by you or the place where you worship? Christian or church is known by the fruit produced. Is it good fruit or bad fruit? Who judges? GOD judges and you judge as GOD gives you discernment.

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only] the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.

22 On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?'

23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers! '

Satan can mislead people into thinking they are Christian by appearing as an angel of light. How can we know that we belong to GOD? Romans 8:16:

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children,

GOD is not fickle and HIS judgment is based upon truth because HE knows the heart and the intent of the heart. We may fool some of the people but we will never fool GOD. That is why every person needs salvation. JESUS makes it clear there is but one way to GOD as written in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him (Thomas), "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

To be a Christian we must have a personal relationship with JESUS.

My prayer is that you will ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your life.

If you make this decision, then go tell someone what you have done and get into a church that teaches truth. Ask JESUS to lead you to the place where you can grow Spiritually. If you do not have a Bible, get one and begin with the Gospel of John and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you as you study and get to know JESUS through the study of GOD’S Word and putting what the Holy Spirit reveals to you into action.

Build your life upon the solid foundation of JESUS. Yes, it will be difficult but look to JESUS and HIS strength. Allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to be your teacher and guide as you go through each day as you obediently serve HIM and grow Spiritually. Build upon the solid foundation of JESUS.

JESUS continued to teach and reveal the answer regarding the spiritual foundation upon which we build.

Let’s read Matthew 7:24-27:

Choose to build Your Life on CHRIST and HIS Teaching.

The Two Foundations

24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.

25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.

26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

What is the foundation upon which we build our Spiritual lives? Is it that which sounds good and feels good or that which is truth?

We can build upon what we think is truth but when tested, we discover that we have built upon false notions and politically correct ideology. These will not stand the test of truth. Study GOD’S Word, the Bible, to discover truth as the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you.

Are we building upon the solid foundation of CHRIST or upon a false foundation? When tough times come into our lives our faith will be tested. Have we sought truth from GOD or something we have dreamed up? As JESUS taught, when we build upon a false foundation there will be a great collapse but when we build upon the solid foundation of JESUS THE CHRIST, we will be standing when all else has collapsed.  

What a sad day should we, who thought we knew truth, find out that what we thought was truth was false! Do we embrace truth or do we choose to believe something false because embracing truth does not promote our social, political or social agenda.

In last week’s lesson JESUS taught:

7 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Seek truth. Do not be misled by the gospel the world offers but as JESUS taught:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Blessings!!!