ARE YOU SURE, YOU’RE READY???

 ARE YOU SURE, YOU’RE READY???

Jesus Says: “For I tell you that “UNLESS” your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” (Matthew 5:20)

Let’s Study “The Sermon” That Jesus Gave At The Mount…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12)

Note: What Jesus spoke on the “Sermon of the Mount” is to be obeyed and applied to ALL of us who call on His name! (1 John 2:6) Remember, what God the Father says, about His Son… “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. LISTEN TO HIM!” (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35)

Friends, we are the light of the world as Jesus has said, (Matthew 5:13-14) and His representatives here on Earth. If we want inherit the kingdom of God…We MUST be doers of God’s word and be obedient to ALL Of Christ Teachings. “For I tell you that “UNLESS” your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” (Matthew 5:20, James 1:22)

Jesus speaks on “Murder” and this is what He says:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.  Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."  (Matthew 5:21:26)

Note: We who call on the name of the Lord should NEVER hold a grudge against another fellow human being…We should be willing to reconciled and forgive those who have offended us; “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. “FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU.” (Colossians 3:13)

Jesus says: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father WILL ALSO forgive you. But if  YOU DO NOT forgive others their sins, your Father WILL NOT forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

We MUST forgive, if we want to be FORGIVEN!
“Forgiveness”-This is NOT always easy to do…When the pain they have cost is too great!  Jesus can help us, ask Him heal you from the inside out from the pain, so that you can forgive them and move on.  Jesus knows exactly what you’re feeling…He had to also forgive all of those who mocked Him and eventually crucified Him. (Hebrews 2:18)
Jesus also addresses the topic of  “Adultery” and this is what He says:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
Note: We have to be careful NOT to let the world or ANYONE lead us astray from what Jesus has command us to be like and act like in this world! 
Jesus says: “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30)
Note: The LORD Says: “REPENT! Turn away from ALL your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.” (Ezekiel 18:30, 18:32) “…So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'(Jeremiah 18:11)
“FRIENDS, NO SIN IS WORTH BURNING IN HELL FOR … IF THIS SIN OR ANY OTHER SIN HAS YOU CAPTIVE “REPENT” FROM IT, TURN FROM IT QUICKLY AND STOP SINNING!”  (Matthew 13:40-42, John 5:14, John 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Revelation 21:8)
On the topic of  “Divorce” Jesus says this:
“It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18)
Paul tells us this “on marriage”: “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 39)
Note: We are a “Holy People” unto the Lord and we are not allowed to marry a “Divorced” person. This is the command, which Jesus gave to all His followers to obey. To go against what GOD has commanded…Means we will have to be judged for all our sins and our disobedience against Him. “…Without holiness NO ONE will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2 Peter 3:11)
The Bible Says:  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether GOOD OR BAD.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
King Salomon tells us this: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
On giving our word (“Oaths”) Jesus says this:
“Let your “YES’ be “YES” and your “NO be NO; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:33-37)
On the topic of  “An Eye For An Eye” Jesus says:
“You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42)
 Jesus tells us to “Love Our Enemies”
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
Note:  We are told by our Lord Jesus “To LOVE Our Enemies”…It’s NOT up to us to take “Revenge” on anyone nor take matters into our own hands… “DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.”… “On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:19-21, John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7, 4:11-12)
Jesus teaches us NOT announce our “Acts of righteousness” to impress or to get praises from others:
“BE CAREFUL NOT to practice your righteousness in front of others to be SEEN by them.  If you do, you will have NO reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, DO NOT ANNOUNCE it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)

The Bible says: 
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, HOW CAN THE LOVE OF GOD be that person?” (1 John 3:17)
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will REWARD THEM for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17)

Note: The ONLY one we need to impress when we help others is God himself. We should keep our giving between us and God.

Jesus teaches on prayer, “The wrong way and the right way to pray”:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:5-13) Amen!

 Jesus teaches on the proper way to “Fasting”…

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18) The more we fast the stronger our walk with the Lord will be.
Jesus tell us NOT to be storing earthly treasures…The world runs after those things (Material things) BUT we are suppose to be storing our treasures in Heaven. Where it really counts:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Watch This…Don’t Miss It! -->) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” … “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You CANNOT serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:19-24)
The Bible tells us: “DO NOT love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is NOT in them.” (1 John 2:15)
James tells us this: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, DON’T YOU KNOW that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:3-4)
Note: The number one priority in any Christian person’s life should be to “Seek the kingdom of God FIRST”, and NOT last or when we get around to it. If Jesus is the real LORD of our lives we will show it by obeying His commands.  (John 14:15, 21, 23-24)
Jesus also tells us NOT to worry about our daily needs...Because God the father knows what we need ahead of time and He will take care of us. When we PUT God FIRST, then ALL our needs will be met! (Matthew 6:33)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Note:  We MUST have the child like “Faith” that God will completely meet all our needs, when we do what He commands FIRST. (Matthew 6:33, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17, Philippians 4:19)
This next “Topic” is one we probably don’t hear much teachings on in our churches … But the Lord tells us, that we will be “Judge” in the same way we “Judge” others…
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5)
Paul says this, on this topic of judging others: “You, therefore, HAVE NO EXCUSE, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are CONDEMNING YOURSELF,  because you who pass judgment DO THE SAME THINGS. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will ESCAPE God's judgment?” (Romans 2:1-3)

Note: We’re always quick to see and point out the faults we find in others… But we NEVER see our own faults and shortcomings. Ask the “Holy Spirit” to remove anything in your life that hinders your walk with the Lord. No sin is worth losing your place in Heaven. (Revelation 2:5)

Jesus just wants us to “Love One Another” and to treat everyone in the same way we ourselves want to be treated… “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
 Jesus teaches us to NEVER give up in coming to Him in prayer for the things that we need:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)
In conclusion, if we DO NOT heed Jesus Teachings and we DO NOT apply or obey them…Then we CANNOT be surprised when on judgment day, He tells us, “I NEVER KNEW YOU, AWAY FROM ME YOU EVIL DOERS” (Matthew 7:23)

Study Christ teachings always and obey them…Because our Lord says: “Anyone who loves me WILL OBEY MY TEACHINGS. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who DOES NOT LOVE ME WILL NOT obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (John 14:23-24, John 14:15, 21)  Our actions will ALWAYS speak louder than our words!

Note: Obeying Christ teachings is going down “the narrow road”… It is building our house on “The Rock” (Which is Christ Jesus our Lord!) (Matthew 7:13-27) THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS OURS TO MAKE BUT NO CHOICE GOES WITHOUT ITS CONCEQUENCES.

The BIBLE Says:
“Anyone who DOES NOT LISTEN to him (Jesus Christ) will be completely cut off from their people.” (Acts 3:23) Anyone who obeys the Lord teachings will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11) Watch And Pray, Friends! Jesus is returning soon!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW & ALWAYS,

YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA