Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
When is the Age of Accountability?
Answer: Jesus Christ personally obeyed His Father the Holy Spirit from the moment of His conception in the virgin Mary His mother with His Spirit.
The Bible’s general answer for accountability for Christians is when the spirit of the children wavers from love of the Holy Spirit’s leading them, then it is sin.
Isaiah 7:15 NLT “By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.”
Isaiah 7:14-15 ESV “He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”
The Bible’s Age of Accountability, according to God’s WORD, happens soon in children’s lives. According to the Hebrew grammar of Isaiah 7:14-15 it happens about the time they finish the baby stage of eating soft foods such as curds and honey and begin to feed themselves with more solid foods.
Until the child reaches the age of accountability, the believing parent(s) is the legal guardian of the child’s actions in God’s sight and the child is sanctified through the parent(s) holiness.
1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”
The time of becoming a culpable adult is twenty years of age for men and is also based upon God’s Judgment of Israel in the Wilderness.
Exodus 30:14 “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD’s offering.”
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
"Teachers Shall Incur the Stricter Judgment" from God and Jesus in James 3:1. For Fmr. Pres. Bible Teacher Jimmy Carter to falsely claim Jesus would "approve gay marriage" is a patent lie and antibiblical. Hebrews 13:8* "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Jesus has never changed, He has always supported Holy marriage between a husband and wife as He clearly said.
Homosexuality was an abomination to God in the O.T. and remains an abomination and sin against God and Jesus in the N.T. Romans 1:27; Jude 1:7. Mark 10:6-9 Jesus said the male would cleave to his female wife and be joined together by God into "one flesh."
1Cor 7:2 "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband." Biblical marriage ordained by God is one man and one woman and not two men.
1Cor 6:9 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders." Gay marriage is NOT approved by God and Jesus and homosexuals will NOT inherit Heaven and eternal life.
Leviticus 18:22 "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable" to God and Jesus. Leviticus 20:13 "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." God and Jesus promise homosexuals will be exiled and suffer the second death forever. Jesus said He ALWAYS did the Will of His Father. In no way whatsoever would God and Jesus change His mind and support the biblical condemnation of the perversion of homosexual behavior. God is Always the Same and remains bound to His Word that homosexuality will result in eternal suffering.
WWJD? Jesus would change U.S. Law and stop encouraging people to sin with the law and teaching sinful stereotypes taught in the public schools to corrupt the children and turn them from believing Jesus. It hurts the children when God and Jesus are NOT honored in marriage, there are eternal benefits to obeying God and Jesus in this life.
For the government to force Christians to sin against Jesus to support gay-marriage is tantamount to denying the faith, denying “Jesus is Lord” and instead affirming “the U.S. Government is Lord” which results in losing the Heavenly Father and losing one’s salvation in Jesus forever as Jesus warned.
ChristianAmendment.com
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
He would use His Gifts.
If you don’t have the gifts your heart tells you need, seek them from Our Father in Heaven. God our Father has giving you a longing desire in your heart of what YOU ARE ABLE TO DO and what ADDITIONAL GIFTS you should SEEK from Him (1Cor 12:4-11).
God Our Father and Jesus will help you and give you what you need.
Mt 7:7-11 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven Give what is Good to those who ask Him!”
1Co 12:31 “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” God puts His desire that you seek the best and most excellent gifts that you may now abound with His abundant life and in Heaven with Him and Jesus.
1Co 14:12 “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual GIFTS, SEEK to abound for the edification of the church.”
He would Thank God His Father Always.
When we pray we should THANK God our Father for what He has done, doing and for all He will do.
Constantly ask in prayer for God’s Will to be done on earth. God will trouble us if we do not constantly ask according to His Will.
Mt 6:10 Jesus said, “‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.’”
Philippians 4:6 NLT “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and THANK Him for all He has done.”
Mt 7:7 NAS95 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Lu 11:9 NLT “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.”
Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God.”
Col 4:2 NLT “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a THANKFUL heart.”
Lu 18:1 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at ALL TIMES they ought to PRAY and not to lose heart.”
Lu 18:1 NLT “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for CONSTANT PRAYER and to show them that they must NEVER GIVE UP.”
1Th 2:13 “And for this reason we also constantly THANK God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
1Th 5:18 “In everything give THANKS; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Heb 12:28 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show GRATITUDE, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
Selah Amen
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He would store up True Treasures in Heaven.
Mt 6:19-20 Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves TREASURES in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”
Mt 6:21 “for where your TREASURE is, there will your HEART be also.”
Mt 5:12 Jesus said, “Rejoice, and be glad, for your REWARD in Heaven is GREAT, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Mt 10:41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s REWARD; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s REWARD.”
Mt 10:42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his REWARD.”
Mt 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a TREASURE hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.” All is required of us to be in the kingdom of heaven.
Mt 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be PERFECT [gk or “complete”], go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have TREASURE in Heaven; and come, follow Me.” ALL that you have is required to be PERFECT in the kingdom of heaven with Jesus.
Mt 5:48 Jesus said, “Therefore you are to be PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is PERFECT.”
Lu 6:45 “The good man out of the GOOD TREASURE of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Lu 12:21 “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not RICH toward God.”
Lu 12:33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing TREASURE in Heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.” Jesus said, “Sell your possessions and give the proceeds to charity.”
Lu 12:34 ““For where your TREASURE is, there will your HEART be also.” If your HEART is with King Jesus, your TREASURE will be with Jesus and not in personal riches.””
Lu 18:22 “And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have TREASURE in Heaven; and Come, Follow Me.””
1Co 3:14 “If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a REWARD.”
1Co 9:17 “For if I do this voluntarily, I have a REWARD; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”
1Co 9:18 “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”
2Co 4:7 “But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the surpassing GREATNESS of the POWER may be of God and NOT from ourselves.”
Col 2:3 Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.”
Col 3:24 “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the REWARD of the INHERITANCE. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
1Ti 6:19 “STORING UP for themselves the TREASURE of a GOOD FOUNDATION [Christ] for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is [Jesus the] Life indeed.
2Ti 1:14 “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the TREASURE which has been ENTRUSTED to you.”
Heb 10:35 “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great REWARD.”
Heb 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a REWARDER of those who SEEK Him.”
Heb 11:26 Moses “considering the reproach of Christ GREATER RICHES than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the REWARD.”
Gen 15:1 “After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD.” God Himself is in Christians who invite God and Jesus into their hearts and ask daily for the infilling of the gift of the TREASURE of the Holy Spirit.
Psa 7:8 “The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.”
Psa 119:112 NLT “I am determined to keep your principles, even forever, to the very end.” To lay up TREASURES in Heaven we must be resolute to keep God’s statues today and forever.
Isa 61:8 NLT “For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully REWARD My people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.” God and Jesus will REWARD His people for their suffering for His Namesake of Jesus.
Jer 17:10 “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”
Lu 19:17* “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in AUTHORITY OVER ten CITIES.’”
John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will HONOR him.”
Php 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing VALUE of KNOWING Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may GAIN Christ.”
Php 3:8 ASV “Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ.”
Php 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Php 4:1 NLT “Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the REWARD for my work. So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends.” The eternal REWARDS sometimes are our beloved ones and brethren in the Lord that we have edified and helped in the FAITH.
Rev 2:3 NLT “I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” Jesus listens to each Christian’s thoughts and sees their intentions, whether they are good or evil, and will judge and repay accordingly in this life and REWARD those who “bring all thoughts into obedience of the Mind of Christ, in this life and in the life to come.
1Co 2:16 “For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the Mind of Christ.”
Jesus would give everything for the Kingdom of God on Earth and in Heaven.
Mt 13: 45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, he went and sold ALL that he had, and bought it.”
2Cor 9: 6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.”
Lay up true treasures in Heaven
Ga 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Mt 6:9-10 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.’” Just as God and Jesus are in charge of everything you have in eternity, so it is God’s Will to rule you here on Earth today.
Re 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My REWARD is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Selah Amen
WilliamBurk.com
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He Would Treat Others the Way He Wanted To Be Treated.
Expect some others to be nice to us if we make an effort to be nice to them first.
Christians commit the “Golden Rule” to memory. Let us Now commit it to life.
The Golden Rule of Jesus in Mt 7:12 “Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”
John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
James 2:8 “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.”
Jesus defined a “NEIGHBOR” as the “Good Samaritan” whose doctrine was wrong, but worshipped the same God with love, compassion and mercy in Luke 10:27-37.
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He Would Give Cheerfully!
2 Corinthians 9: 5-7 “So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and ARRANGE beforehand your previously promised BOUNTIFUL GIFT, that the same might be ready as a BOUNTIFUL GIFT, and not affected by covetousness. Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who SOWS BOUNTIFULLY shall also REAP BOUNTIFULLY. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER!”
Mt 5:42* “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Mt 6:2* “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Mt 6:3* “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Mt 6:11* ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’
As you give to others with mercy, Our Heavenly Father will give to you the Heavenly Manna of Jesus Christ the Bread of Life.
Mt 7:6* “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”
Mt 10:8* “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely GIVE.
Mt 10:42* “And whoever in the name of a disciple GIVES to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his REWARD.”
Mt 13:12* “For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
Mt 16:19* “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Jesus gives His best to us, and we ought to give our best to Him and others in the Name of Jesus.
Mt 19:21 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.””
Mt 25:29* “For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
The greatest giver this world has ever known was Jesus Christ. Leaving behind the riches and glory of His heavenly kingdom, He came to Earth and willingly gave His life so that we could keep ours.
As God predestined His children to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29), there can be no better way to emulate Jesus Christ than by giving selflessly the way He did. Our Savior Himself told us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Quite simply, then, our greatest motivation for cheerful and generous giving should be that it pleases the Lord and reflects His gift of salvation to us.
The second letter to the Corinthians reveals a number of inspiring truths that should help us become more cheerful givers. As Paul wisely admonished the Corinthians, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This indelible truth was also stated by Solomon a thousand years earlier: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing” (Proverbs 3:9-10). And Christ Himself told us, “Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). Indeed, “Good will come to him who is generous” (Psalm 112:5).
This principle is unfailingly clear—we cannot out-give our gracious Creator.
The more we give in service to the Lord, the more we will get in return. In fact, the only place in the Bible where God invites us to test Him is Malachi 3:10 where He is talking about our offerings made unto Him: “Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and poor out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Once more, the words of Solomon echo this: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).
As Paul stated, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Cheerful giving, therefore, should be a way of life for the Christian who understands the grace of God. When we give generously and with a willing heart, God assures us He will watch over us and provide for us (Isaiah 58:9; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 22:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11). And we need to remember that it’s not just our treasure that we are to cheerfully give back to God.
As King David pointed out, everything we have is from God (1 Chronicles 29:14), and this includes our talents and our time as well. As ours days are numbered (Psalm 139:16), our time indeed belongs to God. And any gifts we have are also from Him; therefore, “each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
For God so loved the world that He gave. We would do well to remember that we are saved because our God so generously gave (John 3:16).
As His children, we are called to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
When we trust God and honor Him by generously giving our time, treasure, and talent, we are truly letting our light shine before men, and our goodness will reflect radiantly on our Father in heaven.
Selah Amen
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
He Would Behave Properly!
Jesus would “be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Rom 13:1).
Romans 13:12-14 “The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
It is God’s Will Christians listen to His Voice very carefully and do exactly what He says to do in order to remain in His Presence forever.
John 12:49-50 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. “And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
Jesus would set His example to influence others and listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying God His Father is the best way to influence others. Paul said to imitate Him as He reflected Christ Jesus behavior in his life.
1Co 4:16 “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.”
1Co 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Eph 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
1Th 1:6 “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Heb 6:12 “that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Heb 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
3John 11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
The Bible tells that, as believers in Jesus, we are to be CONFORMED to His LIKENESS (Romans 8:29). We are to put on the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16) as Jesus is the “Head” of the Church. Every minute of every day we should strive to behave as Jesus would behave if He were facing the situations that we face.
Christians Must Rely Daily on a Close Relationship With God through Jesus His Son and listen to the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
The first characteristic of a follower of Jesus is that we must recognize our inability to save ourselves, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3 ESV). We must be aware of our spiritual needs, not just our physical needs. As Christians, we must keep in mind that the ability to live a holy life comes from God. We do not live the Christian life by our own power. Our spirit, apart from a relationship with Jesus, is too weak to stand against the temptations and forces that seek to destroy us. We must be ever vigilant to fan the flames of our relationship with God.
Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy to fan the flames of the Charisma manifestation of the Holy Spirit gift with in him in 2Ti 1:6 “And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
God helps by making His ministers flaming Holy Spirit fire. Heb 1:7* And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” Jesus desires to baptize His disciples with Holy Spirit fire. In Mt 3:11b “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In Acts 2 Jesus began to fulfill that baptism in fire in the “upper room.”
What Would Jesus Do?
Christians Should Be In Constant Prayer To God. Luke 18:1 “Now Jesus was telling them a parable to show that at ALL times they ought to PRAY and not to lose heart.”
2Th 1:11 NASB “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.”
2Th 1:11 NIV With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2Th 1:11 NKJV Therefore we also PRAY ALWAYS for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2Th 1:11 NLT And so WE KEEP ON PRAYING FOR YOU, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill ALL your good intentions and faithful deeds.
We must pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17), so that we will be confidently walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I try to be in a constant conversation with God throughout the day. Instead of merely thinking to myself, I direct my thoughts toward God. I listen for His response in my spirit. I try to stay engaged in communication with Him, so that my every decision and action will be guided by Him and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
1Th 5:11-15 “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.”
1Th 5:16-22 “Rejoice ALWAYS; PRAY WITHOUT CEASING; in everything GIVE THANKS; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good: abstain from every form of evil.”
Christians Should Choose To Be Empathetic.
Luke 7:13 NAS95 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Lu 23:28* But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
John 11:33 “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, he was moved with indignation and was deeply troubled.”
Ro 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
2Co 1:6* But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
2Co 1:7* and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
2Co 2:7* so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2Co 7:4* Great is my confidence in you, great is my boasting on your behalf; I am filled with comfort. I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
2Co 7:6* But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2Co 7:7* and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
2Co 7:13* For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2Co 13:11* Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Eph 6:22* And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
1Th 3:7* for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;
1Th 4:18* Therefore comfort one another with these words.
2Th 2:16* Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
2Th 2:17* comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Phm 7* For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4 ESV). Believers should show compassion; caring about others when they hurt. Sometimes, when a person is going through a rough time or tragedy has crashed into their lives, all they need is someone that knows what they are going through to ride it out with them. The love of Jesus tells us to be the person who comes along side the hurting one and help them through their trials.
Christians Should Choose a Godly Attitude Concerning Success.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5 ESV). Believers must not exhibit the kind of arrogance that pushes people away. Oftentimes we think that the way to be successful, whether it is in business or during an argument, is to knock others out of the way. Jesus was not that way and He does not want us to be that way. Many non-Christians say that the main characteristic of Christianity is ‘arrogance’, we should choose to refuse to be arrogant.
Christians Should Choose To Control Their Anger
As Christians, we must not engage in uncontrolled anger. Colossians 3:7-9 tells us that the believer is no longer controlled by things like anger, but now is able to resist the urge to engage in sins of that nature. The Bible tells us that one can be angry at the things God is angry at, such as sin and the hurtful, harmful ways men act, but we must not sin because of our anger (Ephesians 4:26).
Christians Should Choose To Seek Holiness
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6 ESV). The believer’s overriding desire should be to be holy (I Peter 1:15-16). Much of our culture views nothing as off limits. The motto with many today, as it has been for some time, is still “If it feels good, do it”. Our sin-soaked media taunts and tempts us to do things that God does not want us to do. We must be aware that we face this every day, and we must live in the life of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to resist the temptation to become like the world (Romans 12). The Bible promises us the resources to overcome temptation (I Corinthians 10:13), we must choose to utilize those resources.
Christians Should Choose To Extend Mercy To Others
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7 ESV). The Bible tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us (Luke 6:27-29). We must not get caught up in the idea that we should get even with someone who has done us wrong. God tells us that it is not our place to take revenge or to get back at those who do us harm. We must leave those kinds of judgments to God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). A passage in Luke chapter 7 says that even sinners love those who love them first. We are to love those who do not love us and, in this way, we will show the love of God and be blessed in the process. This is acting as God acts (Luke 7:32-36).
The Christian Should Choose Daily To Study God’s Word
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8 ESV). It is by reading, studying, and applying God’s Word that we are changed by it. We know the character of God better as we study His Word, and we are strengthened against the onslaught of a wicked world (Romans 12:2). God has given us His Word in order that we might have a written record of His dealings with humanity, so that we would know His will, and so that we will know how we should respond to Him. However, we must be diligent to read and study the Bible, and let it, and the power of the Holy Spirit, change us into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
The Christian Should Choose To Be a Force For Good in the World
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9 ESV). The Christian should be a force for conflict resolution, rather than fuel for the fire of arguments. Not only should the believer in Jesus not be a source of unnecessary friction or conflict, but we should also seek to be ambassadors of peace. When it is within our power, we should try to resolve conflict and bring peace to situations of unrest.
The Christian Must Choose To Endure Suffering For Jesus’ Sake
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12). Jesus was persecuted and crucified for our sakes and He tells us that we will suffer also, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). Jesus did not say that we might have trials and difficulties in this life; He said that we would have them. However, He also promises us that He will be with us through those difficulties and will see us through them.
Conclusion
God has given humans the ability to choose. We can choose to engage in our relationship with God, through Christ, or we can choose to neglect the things that it takes to keep our relationship with Him vital and energized. It is by an act of our will that we choose which direction we will go with Jesus. Will we choose not to do the things that keep us close to God, allow our relationship to drift away from Him, and possibly shipwreck our faith completely?
My prayer is that every believer will do the things it takes to grow closer to Him, and be transformed into one who exhibits the very traits of our loving Creator. The choice must be made by each of us.
1Th 5:22 KJV Jesus would “Abstain from ALL appearance of evil.”
When is the Age of Accountability?
Answer: Jesus Christ personally obeyed His Father the Holy Spirit from the moment of His conception in the virgin Mary His mother with His Spirit.
The Bible’s general answer for accountability for Christians is when the spirit of the children wavers from love of the Holy Spirit’s leading them, then it is sin.
Isaiah 7:15 NLT “By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.”
Isaiah 7:14-15 ESV “He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”
The Bible’s Age of Accountability, according to God’s WORD, happens soon in children’s lives. According to the Hebrew grammar of Isaiah 7:14-15 it happens about the time they finish the baby stage of eating soft foods such as curds and honey and begin to feed themselves with more solid foods.
Until the child reaches the age of accountability, the believing parent(s) is the legal guardian of the child’s actions in God’s sight and the child is sanctified through the parent(s) holiness.
1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”
The time of becoming a culpable adult is twenty years of age for men and is also based upon God’s Judgment of Israel in the Wilderness.
Exodus 30:14 “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD’s offering.”
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
"Teachers Shall Incur the Stricter Judgment" from God and Jesus in James 3:1. For Fmr. Pres. Bible Teacher Jimmy Carter to falsely claim Jesus would "approve gay marriage" is a patent lie and antibiblical. Hebrews 13:8* "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Jesus has never changed, He has always supported Holy marriage between a husband and wife as He clearly said.
Homosexuality was an abomination to God in the O.T. and remains an abomination and sin against God and Jesus in the N.T. Romans 1:27; Jude 1:7. Mark 10:6-9 Jesus said the male would cleave to his female wife and be joined together by God into "one flesh."
1Cor 7:2 "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband." Biblical marriage ordained by God is one man and one woman and not two men.
1Cor 6:9 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders." Gay marriage is NOT approved by God and Jesus and homosexuals will NOT inherit Heaven and eternal life.
Leviticus 18:22 "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable" to God and Jesus. Leviticus 20:13 "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." God and Jesus promise homosexuals will be exiled and suffer the second death forever. Jesus said He ALWAYS did the Will of His Father. In no way whatsoever would God and Jesus change His mind and support the biblical condemnation of the perversion of homosexual behavior. God is Always the Same and remains bound to His Word that homosexuality will result in eternal suffering.
WWJD? Jesus would change U.S. Law and stop encouraging people to sin with the law and teaching sinful stereotypes taught in the public schools to corrupt the children and turn them from believing Jesus. It hurts the children when God and Jesus are NOT honored in marriage, there are eternal benefits to obeying God and Jesus in this life.
For the government to force Christians to sin against Jesus to support gay-marriage is tantamount to denying the faith, denying “Jesus is Lord” and instead affirming “the U.S. Government is Lord” which results in losing the Heavenly Father and losing one’s salvation in Jesus forever as Jesus warned.
ChristianAmendment.com
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
He would use His Gifts.
If you don’t have the gifts your heart tells you need, seek them from Our Father in Heaven. God our Father has giving you a longing desire in your heart of what YOU ARE ABLE TO DO and what ADDITIONAL GIFTS you should SEEK from Him (1Cor 12:4-11).
God Our Father and Jesus will help you and give you what you need.
Mt 7:7-11 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven Give what is Good to those who ask Him!”
1Co 12:31 “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” God puts His desire that you seek the best and most excellent gifts that you may now abound with His abundant life and in Heaven with Him and Jesus.
1Co 14:12 “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual GIFTS, SEEK to abound for the edification of the church.”
He would Thank God His Father Always.
When we pray we should THANK God our Father for what He has done, doing and for all He will do.
Constantly ask in prayer for God’s Will to be done on earth. God will trouble us if we do not constantly ask according to His Will.
Mt 6:10 Jesus said, “‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.’”
Philippians 4:6 NLT “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and THANK Him for all He has done.”
Mt 7:7 NAS95 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Lu 11:9 NLT “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.”
Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God.”
Col 4:2 NLT “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a THANKFUL heart.”
Lu 18:1 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at ALL TIMES they ought to PRAY and not to lose heart.”
Lu 18:1 NLT “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for CONSTANT PRAYER and to show them that they must NEVER GIVE UP.”
1Th 2:13 “And for this reason we also constantly THANK God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
1Th 5:18 “In everything give THANKS; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Heb 12:28 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show GRATITUDE, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
Selah Amen
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He would store up True Treasures in Heaven.
Mt 6:19-20 Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves TREASURES in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”
Mt 6:21 “for where your TREASURE is, there will your HEART be also.”
Mt 5:12 Jesus said, “Rejoice, and be glad, for your REWARD in Heaven is GREAT, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Mt 10:41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s REWARD; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s REWARD.”
Mt 10:42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his REWARD.”
Mt 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a TREASURE hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.” All is required of us to be in the kingdom of heaven.
Mt 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be PERFECT [gk or “complete”], go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have TREASURE in Heaven; and come, follow Me.” ALL that you have is required to be PERFECT in the kingdom of heaven with Jesus.
Mt 5:48 Jesus said, “Therefore you are to be PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is PERFECT.”
Lu 6:45 “The good man out of the GOOD TREASURE of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Lu 12:21 “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not RICH toward God.”
Lu 12:33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing TREASURE in Heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.” Jesus said, “Sell your possessions and give the proceeds to charity.”
Lu 12:34 ““For where your TREASURE is, there will your HEART be also.” If your HEART is with King Jesus, your TREASURE will be with Jesus and not in personal riches.””
Lu 18:22 “And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have TREASURE in Heaven; and Come, Follow Me.””
1Co 3:14 “If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a REWARD.”
1Co 9:17 “For if I do this voluntarily, I have a REWARD; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”
1Co 9:18 “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”
2Co 4:7 “But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the surpassing GREATNESS of the POWER may be of God and NOT from ourselves.”
Col 2:3 Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.”
Col 3:24 “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the REWARD of the INHERITANCE. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
1Ti 6:19 “STORING UP for themselves the TREASURE of a GOOD FOUNDATION [Christ] for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is [Jesus the] Life indeed.
2Ti 1:14 “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the TREASURE which has been ENTRUSTED to you.”
Heb 10:35 “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great REWARD.”
Heb 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a REWARDER of those who SEEK Him.”
Heb 11:26 Moses “considering the reproach of Christ GREATER RICHES than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the REWARD.”
Gen 15:1 “After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD.” God Himself is in Christians who invite God and Jesus into their hearts and ask daily for the infilling of the gift of the TREASURE of the Holy Spirit.
Psa 7:8 “The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.”
Psa 119:112 NLT “I am determined to keep your principles, even forever, to the very end.” To lay up TREASURES in Heaven we must be resolute to keep God’s statues today and forever.
Isa 61:8 NLT “For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully REWARD My people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.” God and Jesus will REWARD His people for their suffering for His Namesake of Jesus.
Jer 17:10 “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”
Lu 19:17* “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in AUTHORITY OVER ten CITIES.’”
John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will HONOR him.”
Php 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing VALUE of KNOWING Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may GAIN Christ.”
Php 3:8 ASV “Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ.”
Php 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Php 4:1 NLT “Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the REWARD for my work. So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends.” The eternal REWARDS sometimes are our beloved ones and brethren in the Lord that we have edified and helped in the FAITH.
Rev 2:3 NLT “I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” Jesus listens to each Christian’s thoughts and sees their intentions, whether they are good or evil, and will judge and repay accordingly in this life and REWARD those who “bring all thoughts into obedience of the Mind of Christ, in this life and in the life to come.
1Co 2:16 “For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the Mind of Christ.”
Jesus would give everything for the Kingdom of God on Earth and in Heaven.
Mt 13: 45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, he went and sold ALL that he had, and bought it.”
2Cor 9: 6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.”
Lay up true treasures in Heaven
Ga 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Mt 6:9-10 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.’” Just as God and Jesus are in charge of everything you have in eternity, so it is God’s Will to rule you here on Earth today.
Re 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My REWARD is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Selah Amen
WilliamBurk.com
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He Would Treat Others the Way He Wanted To Be Treated.
Expect some others to be nice to us if we make an effort to be nice to them first.
Christians commit the “Golden Rule” to memory. Let us Now commit it to life.
The Golden Rule of Jesus in Mt 7:12 “Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”
John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
James 2:8 “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.”
Jesus defined a “NEIGHBOR” as the “Good Samaritan” whose doctrine was wrong, but worshipped the same God with love, compassion and mercy in Luke 10:27-37.
Jesus Answers the Question WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?
He Would Give Cheerfully!
2 Corinthians 9: 5-7 “So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and ARRANGE beforehand your previously promised BOUNTIFUL GIFT, that the same might be ready as a BOUNTIFUL GIFT, and not affected by covetousness. Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who SOWS BOUNTIFULLY shall also REAP BOUNTIFULLY. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER!”
Mt 5:42* “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Mt 6:2* “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Mt 6:3* “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Mt 6:11* ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’
As you give to others with mercy, Our Heavenly Father will give to you the Heavenly Manna of Jesus Christ the Bread of Life.
Mt 7:6* “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”
Mt 10:8* “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely GIVE.
Mt 10:42* “And whoever in the name of a disciple GIVES to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his REWARD.”
Mt 13:12* “For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
Mt 16:19* “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Jesus gives His best to us, and we ought to give our best to Him and others in the Name of Jesus.
Mt 19:21 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.””
Mt 25:29* “For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
The greatest giver this world has ever known was Jesus Christ. Leaving behind the riches and glory of His heavenly kingdom, He came to Earth and willingly gave His life so that we could keep ours.
As God predestined His children to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29), there can be no better way to emulate Jesus Christ than by giving selflessly the way He did. Our Savior Himself told us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Quite simply, then, our greatest motivation for cheerful and generous giving should be that it pleases the Lord and reflects His gift of salvation to us.
The second letter to the Corinthians reveals a number of inspiring truths that should help us become more cheerful givers. As Paul wisely admonished the Corinthians, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This indelible truth was also stated by Solomon a thousand years earlier: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing” (Proverbs 3:9-10). And Christ Himself told us, “Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). Indeed, “Good will come to him who is generous” (Psalm 112:5).
This principle is unfailingly clear—we cannot out-give our gracious Creator.
The more we give in service to the Lord, the more we will get in return. In fact, the only place in the Bible where God invites us to test Him is Malachi 3:10 where He is talking about our offerings made unto Him: “Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and poor out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Once more, the words of Solomon echo this: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).
As Paul stated, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Cheerful giving, therefore, should be a way of life for the Christian who understands the grace of God. When we give generously and with a willing heart, God assures us He will watch over us and provide for us (Isaiah 58:9; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 22:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11). And we need to remember that it’s not just our treasure that we are to cheerfully give back to God.
As King David pointed out, everything we have is from God (1 Chronicles 29:14), and this includes our talents and our time as well. As ours days are numbered (Psalm 139:16), our time indeed belongs to God. And any gifts we have are also from Him; therefore, “each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
For God so loved the world that He gave. We would do well to remember that we are saved because our God so generously gave (John 3:16).
As His children, we are called to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
When we trust God and honor Him by generously giving our time, treasure, and talent, we are truly letting our light shine before men, and our goodness will reflect radiantly on our Father in heaven.
Selah Amen
Jesus Answers the Question What Would Jesus Do? WWJD?
He Would Behave Properly!
Jesus would “be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Rom 13:1).
Romans 13:12-14 “The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
It is God’s Will Christians listen to His Voice very carefully and do exactly what He says to do in order to remain in His Presence forever.
John 12:49-50 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. “And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
Jesus would set His example to influence others and listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying God His Father is the best way to influence others. Paul said to imitate Him as He reflected Christ Jesus behavior in his life.
1Co 4:16 “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.”
1Co 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Eph 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
1Th 1:6 “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Heb 6:12 “that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Heb 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
3John 11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
The Bible tells that, as believers in Jesus, we are to be CONFORMED to His LIKENESS (Romans 8:29). We are to put on the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16) as Jesus is the “Head” of the Church. Every minute of every day we should strive to behave as Jesus would behave if He were facing the situations that we face.
Christians Must Rely Daily on a Close Relationship With God through Jesus His Son and listen to the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
The first characteristic of a follower of Jesus is that we must recognize our inability to save ourselves, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3 ESV). We must be aware of our spiritual needs, not just our physical needs. As Christians, we must keep in mind that the ability to live a holy life comes from God. We do not live the Christian life by our own power. Our spirit, apart from a relationship with Jesus, is too weak to stand against the temptations and forces that seek to destroy us. We must be ever vigilant to fan the flames of our relationship with God.
Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy to fan the flames of the Charisma manifestation of the Holy Spirit gift with in him in 2Ti 1:6 “And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
God helps by making His ministers flaming Holy Spirit fire. Heb 1:7* And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” Jesus desires to baptize His disciples with Holy Spirit fire. In Mt 3:11b “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In Acts 2 Jesus began to fulfill that baptism in fire in the “upper room.”
What Would Jesus Do?
Christians Should Be In Constant Prayer To God. Luke 18:1 “Now Jesus was telling them a parable to show that at ALL times they ought to PRAY and not to lose heart.”
2Th 1:11 NASB “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.”
2Th 1:11 NIV With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2Th 1:11 NKJV Therefore we also PRAY ALWAYS for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
2Th 1:11 NLT And so WE KEEP ON PRAYING FOR YOU, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill ALL your good intentions and faithful deeds.
We must pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17), so that we will be confidently walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I try to be in a constant conversation with God throughout the day. Instead of merely thinking to myself, I direct my thoughts toward God. I listen for His response in my spirit. I try to stay engaged in communication with Him, so that my every decision and action will be guided by Him and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
1Th 5:11-15 “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.”
1Th 5:16-22 “Rejoice ALWAYS; PRAY WITHOUT CEASING; in everything GIVE THANKS; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good: abstain from every form of evil.”
Christians Should Choose To Be Empathetic.
Luke 7:13 NAS95 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Lu 23:28* But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
John 11:33 “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, he was moved with indignation and was deeply troubled.”
Ro 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
2Co 1:6* But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
2Co 1:7* and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
2Co 2:7* so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2Co 7:4* Great is my confidence in you, great is my boasting on your behalf; I am filled with comfort. I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
2Co 7:6* But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2Co 7:7* and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
2Co 7:13* For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2Co 13:11* Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Eph 6:22* And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
1Th 3:7* for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;
1Th 4:18* Therefore comfort one another with these words.
2Th 2:16* Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
2Th 2:17* comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Phm 7* For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4 ESV). Believers should show compassion; caring about others when they hurt. Sometimes, when a person is going through a rough time or tragedy has crashed into their lives, all they need is someone that knows what they are going through to ride it out with them. The love of Jesus tells us to be the person who comes along side the hurting one and help them through their trials.
Christians Should Choose a Godly Attitude Concerning Success.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5 ESV). Believers must not exhibit the kind of arrogance that pushes people away. Oftentimes we think that the way to be successful, whether it is in business or during an argument, is to knock others out of the way. Jesus was not that way and He does not want us to be that way. Many non-Christians say that the main characteristic of Christianity is ‘arrogance’, we should choose to refuse to be arrogant.
Christians Should Choose To Control Their Anger
As Christians, we must not engage in uncontrolled anger. Colossians 3:7-9 tells us that the believer is no longer controlled by things like anger, but now is able to resist the urge to engage in sins of that nature. The Bible tells us that one can be angry at the things God is angry at, such as sin and the hurtful, harmful ways men act, but we must not sin because of our anger (Ephesians 4:26).
Christians Should Choose To Seek Holiness
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6 ESV). The believer’s overriding desire should be to be holy (I Peter 1:15-16). Much of our culture views nothing as off limits. The motto with many today, as it has been for some time, is still “If it feels good, do it”. Our sin-soaked media taunts and tempts us to do things that God does not want us to do. We must be aware that we face this every day, and we must live in the life of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to resist the temptation to become like the world (Romans 12). The Bible promises us the resources to overcome temptation (I Corinthians 10:13), we must choose to utilize those resources.
Christians Should Choose To Extend Mercy To Others
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7 ESV). The Bible tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us (Luke 6:27-29). We must not get caught up in the idea that we should get even with someone who has done us wrong. God tells us that it is not our place to take revenge or to get back at those who do us harm. We must leave those kinds of judgments to God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). A passage in Luke chapter 7 says that even sinners love those who love them first. We are to love those who do not love us and, in this way, we will show the love of God and be blessed in the process. This is acting as God acts (Luke 7:32-36).
The Christian Should Choose Daily To Study God’s Word
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8 ESV). It is by reading, studying, and applying God’s Word that we are changed by it. We know the character of God better as we study His Word, and we are strengthened against the onslaught of a wicked world (Romans 12:2). God has given us His Word in order that we might have a written record of His dealings with humanity, so that we would know His will, and so that we will know how we should respond to Him. However, we must be diligent to read and study the Bible, and let it, and the power of the Holy Spirit, change us into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
The Christian Should Choose To Be a Force For Good in the World
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9 ESV). The Christian should be a force for conflict resolution, rather than fuel for the fire of arguments. Not only should the believer in Jesus not be a source of unnecessary friction or conflict, but we should also seek to be ambassadors of peace. When it is within our power, we should try to resolve conflict and bring peace to situations of unrest.
The Christian Must Choose To Endure Suffering For Jesus’ Sake
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12). Jesus was persecuted and crucified for our sakes and He tells us that we will suffer also, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). Jesus did not say that we might have trials and difficulties in this life; He said that we would have them. However, He also promises us that He will be with us through those difficulties and will see us through them.
Conclusion
God has given humans the ability to choose. We can choose to engage in our relationship with God, through Christ, or we can choose to neglect the things that it takes to keep our relationship with Him vital and energized. It is by an act of our will that we choose which direction we will go with Jesus. Will we choose not to do the things that keep us close to God, allow our relationship to drift away from Him, and possibly shipwreck our faith completely?
My prayer is that every believer will do the things it takes to grow closer to Him, and be transformed into one who exhibits the very traits of our loving Creator. The choice must be made by each of us.
1Th 5:22 KJV Jesus would “Abstain from ALL appearance of evil.”