Matthew 5:2-12

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

The Bible contains great and memorable phrases. One particular phrase refers to the actions of Jesus. Matthew 5:2 reads, "Then He opened His mouth and taught them, . . ." Oh to be one of the privileged few who were with Jesus when He opened His mouth and taught them.

Although you and I were not with Jesus when He taught on this earth, we are blessed with the written record of Jesus's teachings. The four gospels contain a record of some of Jesus's teachings. One example of Jesus's teachings is found in Matthew's account of Jesus's sermon He delivered while on the mountain.

In the beginning of Jesus's sermon on the mount, Jesus laid the foundation for happiness. Beginning in verse 3 and continuing to verse 11, nine different times Jesus said, "Blessed (happy) are . . ." Based upon these nine statements of happiness, we see those blessed with happiness will be the "poor in spirit," "those who mourn," "the meek," "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness," "the merciful," "the pure in heart," "the peacemakers," "those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake," and those who are reviled and persecuted.

As you read the following passage from Matthew 5, remember that these are the words which flowed from Jesus as He opened His mouth and taught those present. Look for happiness within the teachings of Jesus Christ, applying those teachings within your life. Here is Matthew 5:2-12 presented for your consideration.

Matthew 5:2-12

2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In Love,

John Duvall

Judges 16:15-22

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

Look within your life and consider what are you strengths and weaknesses. Within my life, I see abilities and attributes that I consider to be my strengths. However, in examining my life, I also see weaknesses. I suspect that I am not alone, that nearly every person possesses various strengths and weaknesses. What would you consider your personal strengths and weaknesses?

A person's strengths may allow him to overcome great obstacles while his weaknesses could cause him to trip and fall. Throughout history, many great people have suffered defeat due to their personal weaknesses. Such men as Moses, David, Judah, Peter, and even Abraham were all challenged by their weakness.

The story of Samson serves as another example of one whose weaknesses brought him low. Samson is known as the man with great strength. In the story of Samson, God gave Samson great physical strength. Samson was able to defeat his enemies on several occasions. Samson also possessed weaknesses. One of Samson's weaknesses was his affection for a woman named Delilah.

Until Delilah, Samson had never revealed the secret of his strength. Delilah knew how to manipulate Samson into giving up his secret. Once Delilah learned the secret of Samson's strength, she betrayed Samson, turning him over to the Philistines.

Consider carefully your strengths and your weaknesses. Write down your strengths on a piece of paper. Then, write down your weaknesses. Be honest with yourself. Now, make a determined effort to keep your weaknesses in check and not allow them to dominate or defeat you in your life as a child of God. Here is Judges 16:15-22 presented for your consideration.

Judges 16:15-22

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”

16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death,

17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.

19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.

20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.

In Love,

John Duvall

John 4:19-26

Dear Brethren,

Good Sunday Morning!

Where will you worship the Lord today? For the members of the Gore Boulevard congregation, we will meet at 6235 W. Gore Blvd. in Lawton, Oklahoma to worship our heavenly Father. Elsewhere in the world, there will be saints who will meet in their homes, in old store fronts, maybe even under a tent somewhere, etc. The good news is that where saints meet to worship God is not important. What is of most concern is that their worship be in spirit and in truth.

When you assemble with fellow saints today, examine your worship to make certain that what you offer to God is sincere and heart felt, yet in accordance with God's word, the truth taught only in the Bible. I firmly believe that there are many people within the denominational world whose worship comes from a mostly sincere heart, but a heart without proper knowledge. As such their worship is not acceptable. Neither is the worship acceptable of the person whose worship may be in accordance with God's word, but his or her heart is far from God.

Dear brethren, think on these things today as you worship the Father in heaven. Here is John 4:19-26 presented for your consideration.

John 4:19-26

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

In Love,

John Duvall