05/29/10 – Sabbath Study Notes: “Genuine Faith/Belief”
Introduction:
This study is concerning genuine faith/belief. Many have asked for guidance and stated that they want to seek the Most High and turn back to Him. This study covers the actions of a true believer.
*Actions that must be done from the heart: Not for personal gain, money, reverence, etc. (Ex: Speaking in tongues, false healings and such just to impress men/women). We have to answer for this type of behavior in the end.
Matthew 6:1 – “Beware of doing your kind deeds before men in order to be seen by them…”’ This is done to gain reverence.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 – Men of the last days having reverence but deny its power
1 Timothy 6:3-6 – Preachers puffed up for reverence/gain; Stay away from these.
Spirit of Discernment – to perceive something hidden or obscure; showing insight or judgment [In order to discern against those who are trying to deceive us; we must know truth for ourselves!]
2 Timothy 2:14-15 – Rightly handling the Word of Truth; If you argue, then it is a form of Pride and they lack the spirit of discernment. Nothing or no one in this Word will speak contrary to the Messiah. Refer to Him (Ex: Matt 22:36 and Luke 10:25).
**A society can’t function without laws. So it makes no sense to say we are no longer bound to follow the laws of the Most High! Everything has rules and laws. A world without laws – Is murdering and stealing OK? The Most High’s laws show us how to live! It is for our own good.
Matthew 6:2-4 – Don’t let your right hand know what the left hand is doing. In 1 Samuel 25 – Nabal was evil; Abigail performed a kind deed and was rewarded by the Most High for her righteous deeds. This was an example where the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing at the time. This was honorable in her stand for righteousness.
Matthew 6:5-7 – Pray in a secret place not to be seen; not to babble. We have to be genuine. Don’t do things to draw attention to ourselves. Server the Most High, do not serve yourself!!! You have to be genuine in your relationship with the Most High (Matthew 6:9-13 – proper prayer)
Matthew 6:16-18 – Fasting from the heart does not mean show the world you are hungry and with sad face. This fasting process should be between our self and the Most High only. This process makes us grow stronger in Him.
Matthew 6:19—21 – Do not lay up treasures for yourself. [Verse 21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also”; There is nothing that is better than the Kingdom to come: Streets of Gold (Revelation 21). In order to get there, you have to live a certain way. If your heart isn’t right its going to be exposed.
Matthew 6:22-23 – What goes in comes out. Be careful what we put into our temple. The eyes are the lamp of the body! You can’t get your heart right if constantly consuming worldly darkness (done through music, movies, food, etc). We must make sure that what we put into our mind is good and it will manifest into our actions.
Matthew 6:24 – Can’t serve two masters – Elohim and mammon. Mammon = Riches; greed; evil object of worship; personification of wealth.
Who is trying to serve both masters? (Answer: Christian churches that use the Most High’s word for gain. This is Satan’s spirit)
Matthew 6:25-34 – Do not worry about our life, what we shall eat or drink, food or clothing. The Most High will always provide for His; Put your faith and trust in the Most High. All of it! If we worry about these things, it becomes our priority and gets us off our path to serving the Most High first (See verse 33); each day presents its own challenges. Don’t worry about the past or future, but instead focus on how we are serving Him right now.
**Everyday our approach should be to serve His will. Ask the Most High to use us to serve Him. If we give that day to the Most High we won’t give in to the flesh. We can only control ourselves and focus on our own hearts.