Matthew 7:15-20

Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.

You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.

A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

When we give our lives to Christ and allow Him to be Lord of our lives. We begin our Christian walk. As we grow in the Lord we also grow “fruit” (or spiritual qualities). The closer we get in our relationship with God the more we recognize sin in our lives, and the more uncomfortable we become with it. If we are growing we will bare good fruit and the manifestation will be the character qualities found in Galatians 5. We will also become more aware of our fleshly tendencies and desire to turn from them.

On the flip side, if we decide to “go our own way,” and not allow God to work in our lives, we will gradually become desensitized and not even recognize what is sin and what is not. That is what is happening to the Church today. The Church is becoming “liberal.” Meaning, it is picking and choosing what is and should be called “sin” for our “times.” We have forgotten the God and His Word is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER! God does not “change” for man or “times.”

If you want to bear good fruit, submit and obey God and HIS Word, NOT the world’s interpretation of what it “should” be to fit it’s sinful nature and desires.

You can also know if someone is truly God’s by what comes out of them. Does it line up with the Word? Do they bear good fruit? Or, Do they try and adapt the Word for the “times” we live in? Be VERY careful of those wolves. They are everywhere, even in the Church!

Let’s pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for Your infallible Word. Thank You that everything may change and fall apart all around me, but You will NEVER change. Thank You that You are the Same. Always. Thank You that I can trust You and Your Word. Give me strength in these evil days to stand on Your Word and stand FOR Your Truth. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Do unto others…
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Called to be a Light in the Darkness, Part 1
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are those who Mourn

Matthew 6:19-24

Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light.

But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

It’s a trap that none of us are immune to. They materialism trap. Everywhere you look there are ads for “things” that will bring us the illusion of “happiness,” if you buy them. And if you cannot afford them, charge them. That slogan for Visa comes to mind, “Visa, it’s everywhere you want to be.” “You want to be,” hmmm. Is it where you should be though?

We must carefully guard our hearts and minds from this deception. Stuff and money will NEVER make us happy or fulfill us. If we crave the “things” of this world and spend all of our energy trying to get our piece of the pie, we are being very foolish. This world has a “limited time only” sticker on it. We cannot take any of the things that we acquire while here into eternity.

Jesus is trying to help us realize this in these Scriptures. Our focus should always be on our “eternal” treasure. Treasure that we will have FOREVER and can NEVER be taken from us!

How do we earn treasure? There are many ways that we can earn and store up treasures…when we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when we give from the heart, when we are quick to obey. These are all opportunities to build a storehouse of treasure in eternity.

There are two other devotions that we have done that go well with this one. You may want to do a further study into this topic…

Materialism

Living in Light of Eternity

Never let yourself forget that we are aliens in this world. We are only here for a limited time. Our home is with the Lord. Our future home and treasure should be our priority, not what we can gain here…

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for Your Word. While I want to be blessed in this life, please help me to remember what really matters. Please help me to never focus so much on the here and now, that I forget where I am going. I pray that You not only bless me now, but teach me to store up my eternal blessings and treasure FIRST. Teach me, Lord. And help me to never forget that my life is not my own, it is Yours, and for Your glory! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Called to be a Light in the Darkness, Part 2
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Living for Eternity
3. Sermon on the Mount – Series Devotional

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly disregarding My commands.

We don’t like to hear Scriptures like this. It makes us uncomfortable. Unfortunately, ignoring them does NOT make them go away and does NOT help us.

I tried to find a loop hole, Ladies. I looked up every word. It is what it is.

We MUST live our lives the way we are called to. It is unwise and foolish to willfully live in sin and try to 1 John 1:9 it or claim the “grace” card. Don’t misunderstand me, God WILL forgive us when we sin. However, when we willingly CHOOSE to reject His Word and adapt it to society we are playing a VERY dangerous game.

Galatians 6:7 says; Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

• We are NOT called to live fleshly carnal lives.
• We are NOT called to be imitators of this world.
• We are NOT called to change the Word to fit with “the times.”
• We are NOT called to be friends of this world.

• We ARE called to be a LIGHT in a dark world.
• We ARE called to be aliens waiting to go home.
• We ARE called to speak the Truth.
• We ARE called to stand up for the Truth.
• We ARE called to SUBMIT and OBEY God’s Word.
• We ARE called to live a CONSECRATED life.

Let’s STOP making excuses to sin and START shining the light of TRUTH. Let’s get into alignment and start listening to Daddy’s voice.

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, Help me to live my life in Your Truth. Help me to be strong and stand firmly on Your Word….even when it will make me unpopular. Help me to REALLY know You. Thank You for hearing me, loving me, and guiding me. I love You with all of my heart, and I want my life to SHINE for YOU! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are those who Walk in the Spirit
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Living for Eternity
3. The Sermon on the Mount – You will know them by their fruit

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

“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 important than food, and the body more important 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?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, O 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.

Why do we believe that Jesus came down from Heaven, lived a common and sinless life, died on a cross for our sins, and then rose from the dead on the third day? And then have a hard time believing that God will provide for us?

It’s a puzzler. It should not be this way. God loves us VERY much. We are the apple of His Eye. When He looks down at you and me, His heart is overflowing with love and compassion for us.

The only way we will ever fully trust Him and really know that He WILL provide all of our needs according to His riches and glory, is when we really put Him first in our lives. It’s time to grow up, and stop “playing” Christian. It’s time to get in the Word and stop making excuses. It’s time to get to know the One Who bore our pain. It’s time to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It’s time to stop worrying and start trusting Daddy….It’s time!

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for providing all of my needs. Thank You that I only need to trust You and walk with You. Thank You that You will NEVER leave me or forsake me. Thank You that You stick closer than a brother. Thank You for loving me and calling me from my Mother’s womb. Thank You for all of the blessings and mercy You show me every day of my life. I love You, Daddy. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Love Your Enemies
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Daddy

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

But the gate is narrow (contracted) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

This is a very interesting statement that Jesus made. The word gate comes from the Greek word pules and means; a door, gate, large door or entrance of a large city. To be distinguished from (thura), a common door.

This tells me that there are two places these gates take us…Heaven and hell.

The scary part of this is the “few” part. There are MANY people who “claim” to be Christians, yet their lives do not show it. We should be certain that we are on the right path. Our flesh will always try to lead us back to the easier (broad) path.

It is NOT easy to walk the narrow road. It can be lonely and scary. However, no matter how hard it is, we know that pearly gates, streets of gold, and a loving God lay at the end of the narrow road.

On the contrary, the broad road leads to hell. A horrible and extremely wicked and unhappy place. Unfortunately, when we are on the broad path we don’t see it that way. It’s easy and fun. It’s all about the flesh and self.

Even we Christian’s can be lead astray onto the broad path. If you see yourself making compromises, sinning in a particular area frequently, and adapting yourself to this world and it’s ways, you way want to step back and find your way back to the narrow path. On it you will make harder choices, but your ending will be MUCH better!

How do we get ourselves on the narrow path?

If you are saved, it’s about choices. Who do you serve? Who do you want to represent? Who do you really love? Once you decide that Jesus is the ONLY path you want to take, turn from your sin (2 Chronicles 7:14), repent (1 John 1:9), and get back on track. Life on the narrow path takes guts and courage. You may not “think” you have what it takes, but you do. I know you do. I know, because, God doesn’t make junk and He doesn’t make mistakes!

If you are un-saved (have never really accepted Jesus) or you have back-slidden and want to rededicate your life to Jesus, then say the following prayer;

Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only Son Jesus Christ shed His precious and innocent blood on the cross and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Romans 10:9, that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that He raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life. With all my heart, I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead. Right now, I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to Your Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus for dying for me and loving me. I ask that you help me to transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone, and not to myself.

Thank you, In Jesus Name, Amen.

For those who are already saved, make sure that your life is being lived for the One Who gave His for you! Walk the narrow road and STAY on it!

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for choosing me to be Your very Own. Help me to walk the narrow road and live my life to please You and not me or others. Help me to be a shining example of Your great love and mercy. And, Lord, when I begin to stray from the narrow path, please pull me back and remind me that I belong with You. Thank You! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. Sermon on the Mount – Series Devotional
2. Sermon on the Mount – Adultery – Sexuality is out of Control in today’s Society
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Forgiveness is Obedience

The Lord’s Prayer

“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.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ “

I did an in depth study of “The Lord’s Prayer” a while back. The information in those two devotionals are thorough. So, I will leave you with the links so that you may study this prayer and understand what exactly Jesus is telling us.

The Lord’s Prayer, part one

The Lord’s Prayer, part two

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, help me to learn Your Truth. Help me to hide Your Word in my heart always. Help me to pray with power and understand your ways to the fullest. Thank You for leaving Your Word for us to know Your Will and how to learn how to live. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Prayer from the Heart
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Daddy
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Love Your Enemies

Matthew 7:1-6

Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.

For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you use to deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.

Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.

We really should spend more time dealing with our own issues than trying to critique everyone else. If we spent more time in the Word and submitting our lives to God we may not have as much time to judge and criticize others. And I am sure we would discover that we have quite a few of our own things to work on.

When we spend our time pointing out other people’s faults, we are really hiding from some very real problems that we are facing. However, when we take that light and shine it into our own hearts and minds, we will give God the opportunity to deal with the real issue.

And the real issue is never the other person. It is always us. Don’t misunderstand me…yes, they may have issues…but God is concerned with you and your issues….and me and my issues. It is not our place to “help” others deal with their “stuff.” It is God’s and God’s alone!

So, look in the mirror and deal with you. And when you are tempted to to point the finger, judge, or criticize another, pull out your mirror again and deal with the lady in the mirror!

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for loving me and only wanting the best for me. Daddy, please help me to not judge others. Help me to let You do Your job and me do mine. And I know that my job is not judge and jury. My job is to love You, obey You, know You, study You, and allow You. My job is to work out my salvation and pray for others, not critique them. Thank You for clearing that up for me, Lord. I love You and I thank You for Your life giving Word. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Anger – Let’s Overcome It!
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are the Pure in Mind
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Called to be a Light in the Darkness, Part 2

Matthew 6:1-4

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, 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 men. I tell you the truth, 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.

Giving should never be about us. When we brag about our giving we are being boastful and prideful. We are trying to put the spotlight on ourselves and make our self look good. Giving is not a “me” thing. It is a “you” thing. It is about the other person and their needs. When we turn it around it is selfish giving.

So, when you give, keep it between you and God. No one else needs to know. And what other people think of you doesn’t matter anyway. Our ONLY concern should be impressing the Lord, not so an so.

If it wasn’t for the Grace of God we wouldn’t have anything to give. Everything belongs to Him. We have been loaned all that we have. He expects us to handle it properly and give from it properly.

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Truth. Help me to recognize the needs around me and give from my heart. And keep it just between us. I love You, Lord. There is no one else that I want to impress more than You. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – Fasting
2. The Sermon on the Mount – Prayer from the Heart
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Daddy

Matthew 6:5-8

“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 men. I tell you the truth, 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.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked to pray? I always feel like I did when I would start a new school. I get that heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach and want to crawl under the seat. There is always someone there who I know can pray more eloquently than I can. Yet, I always say, “sure!” Then when I’m done, it’s self critique time…LOL…

All of those thoughts and feelings that occur are lies. They are whispered in my ears and yours by our adversary. He does not want us to pray. He would rather us feel like we aren’t good enough.

Jesus says otherwise…He says that big words and eloquent prayers do not impress Him. That does not mean that someone who prays that way isn’t pleasing to Him. It means that He looks at our hearts and that is what impresses Him.

Now, take the time to get in your prayer closet and PRAY!!! And the next time you are asked to pray publicly, don’t feel intimidated. Just let your heart come out of your mouth for the Lord and He will be pleased! If you talk to God like you would a close friend (which is what He wants), then you will do GREAT!

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for hearing my prayers and loving me for me. Thank You that I do not need to use big words to pray effective prayers. Thank You. I love You, Lord. Help me to pray more and critique less. Help me to pray and not care what people think. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – The Lord’s Prayer
2. The Sermon on the Mount – The Lady in the Mirror
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Do unto others…

Matthew 5:31-32 (NIV)

“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 marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

In the society that we live in marriage is entered into more like a contract then a covenant promise. A covenant promise is like the ones that God made to Abraham and David. The kind that are meant to be kept. Unfortunately, today, there is always a door of escape left ajar just in case “things don’t work out.” The sad truth is that the Church has an equal if not higher divorce rate than the world. There is no example being set as to what marriage was created to be or what the roles are for the man and the woman.

The phrases “fell out of love,” “our lives are heading in different directions,” “I just don’t love him/her anymore,” “My needs aren’t being met,” are some of the many excuses we hear whirling all around us on television, movies, and magazine covers.

First of all, love is not a feeling. Love is a choice. Love is a decision. Love is a deliberate action. I have been married 10 years and there have been MANY days…even weeks where I did not “feel” any love towards my husband. As a matter of fact, I have felt close to hate for him in the “feelings” realm. However, I made a covenant promise to him before God “til death do us part.”

Am I saying this is easy, or what comes naturally?

NO WAY! There was a time when my husband betrayed me with another woman, and I seriously considered getting out. I didn’t give into that “feeling” though. I chose to go with my spirit and forgive him and move forward in our marriage. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do within my marriage, and it was an up hill battle all the way, but we made it! And today, our marriage is better for it. Yes, I said better.

The covenant promise that we make before God should be enough to keep us in marriage. Children are another important reason to make every effort to maintain a healthy marriage at all costs. Divorce leaves VERY deep wounds in a child that follow them their entire lives and never completely heal. I know this from personal experience and observations. They need Mom and Dad to have it together. They need it more than we need to “have our needs met.”

I want to be clear…I believe that divorce should not be the norm. It should be a very distant and last resort. If there is no other way out of an abusive relationship, then obviously we must make that painful break. That is much different that calling it quits because someone else makes our hearts skip a beat. Or we don’t get enough affection. Or we allow our hearts to harbor unforgiveness. Those are foolish and selfish reasons for divorce. It is also the blueprint of a society without God.

I want you to remember something. God compares the Church and its relationship with Him as a marital relationship. It is the closest relationship two people can ever have. It is holy and sacred and should be protected and cherished. It was created by God to teach us love and forgiveness.

Let’s Pray,

Daddy God, I want to thank You for the gift of my husband. Thank You for all that he is, even when I do not see it. Help me to love and forgive Him the way You do. Help me to set an example before my children of what marriage should be. Help me to stay true and remain. Help me to die to my flesh and walk in the spirit. Help me to be the kind of wife that You created me to be. Help me to bring up children that take marriage seriously and hopefully bring a change in the morality of this country. Help me to plant that seed into my children’s lives. Thank You, Daddy. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,

Lara

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Related Topics:

1. The Sermon on the Mount – You will know them by their fruit
2. Sermon on the Mount – Series Devotional
3. The Sermon on the Mount – Consistency as a Mother