Sherylle Ladner

The good and natural sexual desire is what you save for your future husband or wife. If you desire, like Adam and Eve, that is bad desire. This is the type of desire that God wishes for us to stay away from. But sometimes that is so hard, because that "bad" desire is all around us. In the music, movies, and even on the radio, we are surrounded. The best way that I can tell you to avoid these temptations is to pray, and let that prayer be your one and true. Believe it, and it will happen.

Adultery in the sinful act that takes place between a married man (or woman) and unmarried man (or woman). **** is a craving between what someone wants from someone that has it. They both are sinful in the eyes of God, and that it is wrong. **** begins in the heart of a person and burst to a ungoverned selfish desire. It breaks the 10th commandment.

The overarching theme of Jesus' teaching in our entire passage, verses 21-26 is that we must love the Lord with our whole being. You cannot give half and half, you must give the whole. We must always remember that Jesus came to bring us the law and the love that flows from it.

If the court has to decide the matter, you will be thrown into debtor's prison and won't get out until every last cent is paid. We are supposed to settle with our accuser. Settling means owe the money that is supposed to be collected. To see that we don't have harsh punishment from man or God.

We must be willing to reconcile with our "brothers and sisters." Without reconciliation, we cannot worship God if we don't reconcile with our fellow "brothers and sisters." In order to take action, we must humble ourselves and seek forgiveness we are snubbed. We may be snubbed, but we must still go and seek reconciliation. Even if it is not possible, we must make a sincere attempt if we would seek to fulfill the spirit of the Law. After all, the Law is not really about murder and stealing. It is about love and reconciliation. Thatis the spirit of the Law.

1. Calling someone a fool, kills the action and brings into the light what that person did. 2. Yes; in God's eye, all life special because God created us to special. 3. Anger is a sin, and sin is against God therefore Anger/sin is a murder in God's eyes.

The Bible is both the Old and New Testaments. When Jesus spoke, he took from the Old Testament to bring His point across to the people. If a church "abolish" the Old Testament, then they are going against the teachings of Jesus. We must reflect on both Old and New Testaments. Without them, where are we going. Since Legalism is man-made, not God-made, then it has no place in the church. BUT you do have those who like to become the legalist of the church. Always telling the pastor of church what he/she can do and not talking to the people who it effects. A church that has no moral standards and no obedience, it reflects in their attitude towards people of the church. It creates choas in the church and keeps the people guessing.

First we should expect presecution because Jesus was persecuted. Hiding our light will upset God and He will not like this. Why does glory and suffering go hand in hand? They just do--without suffering we cannot Glorify God. Yes, for that was his purpose to come and show us the suffering that we must go through. In Romans 12:2, it means that our witness must consist of both deeds and words that point to God the Father and bring glory to Him.

Cities are usually situated on hilltops for protection against attack. It is much more difficult to storm a walled city running uphill, and defenders have always know that victory must be claimed by capturing and holding the high ground. The point is not a city's defense, but its visibility because of its elevated position. To be "the light of the world," Christians must be elevated so that the world around may follow the light. Many people don't hide a light a under a bowl, but to let the light shine to everyone that is in the house.

As a Christian who has lost his "saltiness," the symptoms are we become bland, no taste at all. Yes, sometimes if you are intune with yourself, those around, and with Christ. The world would see a "de-saltified" Christian as person who no longer stand boldly and faithfully for Christ and Christian values, they would become worthless to him. To pont where that Christian would as as a counterfeit to the real salt. I think they see in a person who is constantly at work. I may bring suggestions to the pot, but that is what they are--suggestions. But sometimes I see that other Christians see this as an opportunity to "take over" or become the boss--Now their salt has gone from their life. Their faith has turned away from the real purpose of "being the salt of the earth."

As many of us know that salt is used for preserving. It is also essential to sustain life. That is why the ancient people traded whatever was required to obtain it. In Palestine, most salt would come from salt caves in the area around the Dead Sea. Both ancient and modern peoples have used salt as both (1) a food preservative and (2) to bring out the flavor of goods. It was also used to make covenants and mixed with sacrifices. But what does it mean as Christian the "salt of the earth?" We say that Christians by their very presence help preserve the world and hold back the wrath of God against it. As a Christian, I believe that God's mercy on our sinful world is due to the prayers and presence of the saints on earth. But our presence is not only a shield against the wrath of God upon the earth, we also serve as those who by their wholesome presence bring about change and healing in a corrupt society. Our greatest "saints" like John and Charles Wesley, William Wilberforce, and John Newton (author of AMAZING GRACE), was the wakened conscience that force a change in society in Eighteenth century England. But the phrase "salt of the earth" as double meaning: "salt of the earth" also means that as Christian, we must witness and conversation. We must remain intact that we must witness what God has done in our lives, not my telling but by doing.

1. Why should we rejoice when we are persecuted? By looking beyond it to the goal. Men and woman of character have always done this. They have endured the pain of the moment for the fulfillment of the promise. The principal of delayed gratification is grounded by exprience in both the physical and spiritual realms. 2. What keeps this from being some kind of sick masochism, or finding pleasure in pain? Our laughter. When we laugh, this means that presecution has seen us. That we have been heard. That our actions have been taken note of by the powers that be and have made their mark. Sometimes that puts us in the same class as Jesus himself, who suffered persecution. 3. Why is the blessing "for their is the kingdom of heaven" appropriate for the persecuted? We are blessed when we are persecued in that we receive a prophet's reward. No, we have not been elevated here by our own bline and selfish zeal. But by God's grace we have enabled to enjoy a wonderful privilege, to be counted among the choice ones of God. We must remember that Paul was once a persecutor, but now he counted it an immense privileged to share "the fellowship of Christ's sufferings" (Philippians 3:10), to "fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afficitions" (Colossians 1:24).

Because we see purity of heart in Jesus. For those who are filled with compromise and conformity, **** and licentiousness cannot see God. They cannot know him. Since we all have a flawed heart, we must reach out to God himself to purify our hearts and cleanse them. God is able to puge the corruption of our hearts and make them pure. And, like Isaiah, give us that holy vision of God. The Book of Revelation closes with the promise of intimacy with God: "They will see his face!" (Revelation 22:4).

It shows the world that we tend to follow what Christ has set before us. A righteousness that changes the heart as well as the soul. That all that we have been through Christ will be there to help us through.

It comes into conflict with what Christ wants us to do and what the world expects us to do. Humility is very important. Christ set the picture into motion, now it is up to us to follow. Those who trust in themselves rather than God will be left with nothing, blessing-less, while the meek, the humble, the trusters-in-God, will inherit the earth and God's blessing.