MATTHEW

Last night we had the first night of our Family Life Conference.  What a blessing it was.  God certainly used Dr. & Mrs. Mike Ray to help many couples in their marriage.  I enjoyed it and I learned some things that will help me.  I'm looking forward to this morning as well. I'm in Matthew and here are a few thoughts: 1) FIVE WOMEN THAT CHANGED THE WORLD- Matthew starts off with the linage of Joseph, from Abraham.  In this genealogy, there are five women mention that changed the world.  They are:  Thamar, the daughter in law of Judah, who bore twins from her father-in-law, Judah (yes, messed up, but in the linage of Jesus!); Then Rachab (we know her best as Rahab the harlot in the book of Joshua, who hid the two spies in the city of Jericho.); then Ruth (the moabite woman whose husband died and then married Boaz, the great grandfather of David the King of Israel); then "her that had been the wife of Urias"  (this is Bathsheba, who was married to Uriah and that David had an affair with and to whom Solomon was born.); and Mary (this is the mother of Jesus, a God fearing, virgin young lady engaged to Joseph).  Now, of these five.... four would be considered "fallen women" or "heathen women",.... and yet... here they are being used of God.  What is God telling us?  That we all have hope of being not only loved by God, but used by Him!! 2) A MEMORIAL TO HIM BECAME A MEMORIAL OF HER- In Matt. 7-13, we see a woman who comes with the alabaster box of very precious ointment and pours it on Jesus' head.  The disciples thought and said:  "What a waste!", but Jesus said it was for His burial.  Then Jesus said that wherever the gospel is preached, this act of hers would be preached also, and would become a memorial of her.  She gave what she had to be a memorial of Christ, but Christ allowed it to become a memorial of her! 3) MINISTRY VERSE- In Matt. 10:16, the Bible says: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."  Don't fight with the wolves, but be handle yourself wisely in the midst of them.  My favorite ministry phrase is "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."  I do not attack every problem I face as a pastor, I look for wisdom to see a problem worked out.  I want to be wise and harmless.  I want to turn the sheep, not slay them.  I want to lead them softly, not jerk them around.  They are God's sheep, not mine.  I am to do my part as their earthly shepherds, and I can only lead those who will choose to follow.  I cannot led a sheep who wanders off with no though of a shepherds leadership.  Be wise and harmless! 4) GOOD SEED/BAD SEED- In Matt. 13:27, it says: "So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field?  from whence then hath it tares?  Sounds like someone is sowing good seed; while someone else is sowing bad seed.  I know that the Word of God is the good seed, and we are to be sowing it every week of our lives (every day).  But there is also a "god of this world", Satan by name, and his job is to sow the bad seed, and he is doing his job rather well.  His seed is inferior and does not bring forth good fruit, but the incoruptible seed bringeth forth fruit unto eternal life.  Let us sow the good seed in life, and in our churches; but don't be shaken when you find tares in the midst of God's childen.... it has always been that way!  5) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH- In Matthew 16:18, Jesus makes a statement found in an important verse:  "I will build my church".  Jesus is in the "church building" business and well as in the "soul saving" business.  Jesus said that He would be the church builder... we are to labor to share the Gospel and love, preach, teach, and minister to all who attend, but Jesus will build His church out of the materials at hand.  Don't try to "build a church"... try to be faithful and serve all whom God gives us an opportunity to serve!  May God richly bless you today! Pastor Mike Mutchler