August 11 - Matthew’s Positive Response

#LifeOfChrist

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9).

Matthew’s gospel has already established that Jesus offered His forgiveness to the least-loved outcasts of society. It seems evident from the context of this verse that one of those outcasts, Matthew the tax collector (this gospel’s author), had been under real conviction of sin and spiritual need. He would have been very aware of Jesus’ ministry in and around Capernaum, even though he might not have personally heard Him preach or had seen Him do a miracle.

Matthew likely yearned for the forgiveness that was permanently denied to him by unbelieving Judaism, which viewed him as the worst kind of reprobate and traitor. So when Christ called him, Matthew without hesitation “got up and followed Him.”

Luke’s account describes the moment this way: Matthew
“left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him” (Luke 5:28).
Our Lord’s simple but profoundly urgent call was sufficient reason for him to forsake everything he once was and owned. Matthew knew that once he left his tax collector’s position he could never return to it. Of all the Twelve, he no doubt sacrificed the most in wealth to follow Jesus. Like Paul later, he affirmed that “whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil. 3:7).

Ask Yourself

If it’s been too long since the significance and honor of Jesus’ call swept over you, see the excitement in Matthew’s reaction to Christ. Watch him lunge at the chance to be one of Jesus’ disciples. Remember again the thrill of being in your Master’s service.

SMART BOUNDARIES: BIBLICAL WISDOM ON NATIONS, CHURCHES, AND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

1/ Proverbs 20:16 in the NASB 1995 reads: "Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge." This ancient proverb gives us essential wisdom for our money, our country, and our personal walk with Jesus Christ.

2/ In basic terms, being surety means guaranteeing someone else's debt. In Traditional Judaism, famous scholars like Rashi explain that if a man is foolish enough to co-sign for a stranger without collateral, the court must seize his cloak as a deposit. You cannot pledge your hard-earned assets to an unvetted stranger without destroying your own household.

3/ Today, many political movements misuse Bible verses about helping the stranger. In Old Testament law, welcoming foreigners always required them to assimilate, obey local laws, and show good character. Foreigners were allowed to join the community, but they had to prove their worthiness first rather than demand free support.

4/ Socialist and progressive policies twist these scriptures to force taxpayers to pay for unchecked migration. Forcing citizens to act as financial guarantors for unproven strangers violates biblical stewardship. International laws cannot overrule a sovereign nation, because forcing a country to put foreign demands ahead of its own citizens forces that government to betray its people. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

5/ In Chabad and Chassidic thought, this verse carries a deeper spiritual meaning. The garment represents the soul's three tools: thought, speech, and action. The stranger represents the evil inclination, or Yetzer Hara, inside every person.

6/ When you surrender your thoughts, words, and actions to bad habits or false ideas, you become surety for a stranger. You allow lower impulses to take control, letting the evil inclination strip away your spiritual garments until you cross over from divine truth into spiritual bankruptcy.

7/ This same betrayal happens in controlling and abusive Christian ministries. When leaders twist Scripture and mix it with secular psychology, human philosophies, or power games, they give in to their evil inclination. By replacing God's truth with man's rules, these leaders host the stranger of worldly deception and cross over into the realm of idolatry.

8/ Conviction must hit our hearts here. In 1 Timothy 5:8, the Apostle Paul warns: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." To abandon your household, church, or nation to finance reckless, unproven outside interests is a direct compromise of the Christian faith.

9/ Hear this warning: foolish sentimentality will destroy your life, your family, and your country. If you allow abusive leaders to control your mind, or if you support laws that bankrupt your nation to feed unvetted demands, you are giving away your garments to a stranger and walking into ruin.

10/ Here are four practical instructions to live out this truth in Jesus Christ:
First, guard the garments of your soul by keeping your thoughts, words, and actions aligned strictly with Scripture.
Second, test every pastor and teacher, rejecting any ministry that uses secular psychology or manipulation to control you.
Third, practice true Christian charity voluntarily, but demand law, vetting, and accountability before giving resources.
Fourth, stand up for lawful borders and national sovereignty, honoring God's design for order and protection.

11/ Be encouraged! Setting firm boundaries is not mean or unloving; it is true biblical wisdom. When you align your life with the Lord Jesus Christ, He gives you the strength to stand strong against deception, protect your home, and walk in total peace.

12/ A Prayer for Wisdom and Boundaries:

Lord God, thank You for Your holy Word and the wisdom found in Proverbs. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask You to help me guard the garments of my soul: my thoughts, my words, and my actions. Convict my heart whenever I give in to the evil inclination or let false ideas take control. Give me the discernment to reject abusive leaders and twisted doctrines that cross over into idolatry. Grant wisdom to our leaders to protect our nation, enforce righteous laws, and care for our citizens first. Give me the courage to practice true charity without falling into foolishness. I place my trust, my family, and my life securely in Jesus' name. Amen.

YESHUA or JESUS? Why did they change His name?

VIDEO LENGTH 10:13
Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
1:04 The Old Testament is written in Hebrew and 1% Aramaic. The New Testament is written in Koine Greek.
1:20 Jesus spoke mostly Aramaic because of the villages around a small Town known as Nazareth where he grew up. He spoke Hebrew to the scribes and teachers of the Law and He most likely spoke Latin and Greek to the Roman soldiers when He traded as a carpenter.
3:13 The Name of our Lord and Savior in different languages.
6:21 Is it about the name or the Person behind the name?
6:34 When demons are cast out, in what name do they leave once commanded?

See full video uploaded on YouTube under 7 Step Ministry OF Jesus Christ:
https://youtu.be/u-D1GGcbGS0?si=mdLcm4cFqi_BgZI2

#Yeshua #jesus #name #changedhisname #bible #HebrewRoots #judaism

Storming The Gates Of Hell

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my assembly; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 John 4:4 Ye are of Elohim, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Isaiah 54:15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahwah, and their righteousness is of me, saith Yahwah.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love Elohim, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Elohim, which is in YHWH our Messiah.

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my assembly; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In our text, when Messiah speaks of the gates of hell, He is referring to the councils of Hell. Hell has come to symbolize the devil and the powers of darkness. When Messiah referred to the gates or ‘councils’ of Hell, He was speaking of the plans and strategies of the powers of darkness. As long as these powers remain undisturbed and unchallenged in the ‘gateways’ of the world, they continue to pose a threat, a hindrance, and a bondage to the people of YHWH and their ministries.

The assembly has fallen prey to the gates of hell. We have been sucked in by the arguments, enticements, and intimidations of the enemy. Satan’s bluster has gained access and dominance for him in far too many circles. Today, in an age where the assembly age has garnered its greatest numerical strength, we are surprisingly lacking in our power to dismantle the enemy.

Satan’s menacing hand and demonic ploys have infiltrated our society like an invasive fog—defiling, corrupting, and manipulating far too many of our lives and affairs. In the ongoing war Satan is waging against both the corporate and the individual mind of the assembly, he has led us away from the strategies of warfare that Messiah charted for us before He ascended to heaven.

Did He not say that the weapons of our warfare are mighty, to the pulling down of strongholds? Yet we allow ourselves to be pulled down instead.

With the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we should be able to win any battle for the hearts and souls of men, against the powers of darkness. But where are our mission victories? They are small and far spread.

Maybe it’s because we’ve gone about this whole idea of missions in the wrong way! We’ve adopted the worldly art of persuasion as our means of ineffective evangelism but salvation comes only when the human heart is liberated by righteous power. Our persuasion and arguments bear very little lasting fruit in this worldwide harvest of souls unless we are taped into YHWH’s power source.

When Paul spoke to the Corinthians, he said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of YHWH” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Paul knew the source of his power!

Here was Paul, writing to the assembly at Corinth immediately following his debate with the philosophers on Mars Hill. Paul was so intellectually equipped that he could philosophize with the greatest of scholars, but he found these arguments to be fruitless and useless during his visit to Mars Hill. It was then that he was “determined to know only YHWH Messiah, and Him crucified” as the only mighty demonstration of the power of YHWH.

There is a secret that has been stolen from us.

It is the secret of how desperately poor we are without the mighty power of YHWH.
To understand that power, we must be stripped of all self-righteousness and self-sufficiency.

To understand that power, we must be humbled and broken.

It is only when we reach that point that we are able to rise up as the mighty army of YHWH and victoriously storm the gates of hell.

The world is littered with failed mission efforts to evangelize the lost. We have plotted and planned and spent our charitable dollars in an effort to carry the banner of YHWH Messiah into every corner of the globe. Yet there remains thousands of religions in the world; and of the eight major religions – Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Christianity, and Islam – we must face the difficult truth that Islam is the fastest growing. We need missionaries now like never before!

But is throwing more money into our present organized mission effort the whole answer? Maybe we first need to reexamine the source of our power. The assembly as an organization cannot conquer the world for Messiah; but the assembly as an organism CAN! Those who enter the mission field must be propelled by YHWH’s power, and His alone. May YHWH help us if we continue to try it without His power, and YHWH help us if we fail to stand in His power alone.

Only YHWH’s power can deepen our dedication as we storm the gates of hell.
Only YHWH’s power can increase our faithfulness as we spread His word abroad.
Only YHWH’s power can bear our burdens as we’re persecuted for Messiah’s sake.
Only YHWH’s power can renew our determination as we carry the banner of YHWH’s grace and mercy.
Only YHWH’s power can help us shoulder our responsibilities to witness to every nation…in every tongue…until every soul is reached with the message of Salvation.

Storming the gates of hell is not for wimps.
That’s why YHWH gave us access to His power source.
The Holy Spirit must be the heavenly air for our spiritual lungs.
The Holy Spirit must be the assurance for our spiritual anxieties.
The Holy Spirit must be the strength for our spiritual weakness.
The Holy Spirit must be the wine for our spiritual thirst.
The Holy Spirit must be the Joy for our spiritual journey.
The Holy Spirit must be the thrust for our spiritual feebleness.
He must be the anointing for our spiritual accomplishments,
The comfort for our spiritual crisis,
The glory for our gloom,
The very breath for our life!

It is not for us to battle Satan alone, but “The spirit itself beareth witness WITH our spirit, that we are the children of YHWH…” (Romans 8:16) Zechariah carried the message that it is, “…not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith YHWH of host.”

If we’re going to go against Satan and his hosts, we’d better take YHWH of Hosts with us!
The Holy Spirit will assure us of our salvation as we storm the gates of hell.
He will relieve us of our own suffering as we call others to Messiah.
He will refresh our spirits as we offer the fountain of refreshing to the world.
He will replenish our strength as we conquer Satan’s army.

Let’s put on the whole armor of YHWH and storm the gates of hell.
Let’s let the world know that YHWH is a righteous remedy for the ruined.
Let them know that YHWH is justification for the judged.
Let them know that YHWH is redemption for the rebellious.
Let them know that He is the solution for their shame,
The triumph for their trouble,
and the blessed bliss for their burdens.

Here I Am, Send Me: A Call to Equip the Church Through Biblical Training
Isaiah 6:8
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Masirheni Robert Mahlaule. I am a 71-year-old South African Christian, a member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) since 1979, and an ordained preacher since 1997. For nearly five decades I have devoted my life to serving God and His people. Today, I write with humility and hope, seeking support to continue preparing myself for greater service through theological education.
I survive on a government old-age grant of ZAR 2 400 (approximately 130 US dollars) per month, which is barely enough to cover my basic living expenses. As a result, I am unable to raise the funds required to pursue an Associate Bachelor's Degree in Divinity, despite my deep desire to continue learning and serving. I therefore appeal to generous individuals, churches, ministries, and Christian organizations to consider partnering with me in this important mission.
My Journey of Faith
My journey with Christ did not begin in a classroom or a seminary. It began through suffering.
Before I joined the ZCC, I was seriously ill. I spent much of my time in and out of hospitals seeking medical help. Like many Africans in desperate circumstances, I also consulted traditional healers, hoping to find relief from my condition. Yet nothing seemed to work.
When I eventually came to the ZCC, pastors prayed for me and laid hands on me. Within three days I could feel a remarkable difference. Week by week my condition improved, and before long I was back on my feet. God had touched my life.
However, looking back, I realise that being healed was not the same as being converted. When I was baptised, I simply joined the church; I had not yet experienced true conversion.
My genuine conversion came later through the preaching of the Gospel. The turning point was when the late Evangelist Billy Graham visited Johannesburg. Through his ministry I came to understand salvation through Jesus Christ in a deeper and more personal way. My faith became rooted not merely in church membership but in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. From that time onward, my life was transformed.
My Calling to Ministry
As I grew in faith, I developed a strong desire to serve others. More than a decade after joining the church, I was ordained as a preacher. Since 1997 I have faithfully carried out the responsibilities entrusted to me.
I have been authorised to preach the Word of God, pray for the sick, conduct funeral services, and minister to people in times of need. These responsibilities have brought me into contact with people from all walks of life, and they have taught me that the greatest need within the church is not merely growth in numbers but growth in biblical understanding.
Over the years, I have witnessed the power of God's Word to transform lives. I have also witnessed the confusion and spiritual challenges that arise when church leaders lack adequate biblical training. This reality has strengthened my conviction that sound theological education is one of the most urgent needs facing the church today.
The Challenge Facing the ZCC
The Zion Christian Church is one of the largest churches in Africa, with millions of members. Throughout its history it has offered hope, healing, fellowship, and spiritual support to countless people.
However, like many churches, it faces significant challenges. One of the most pressing is the shortage of adequately Bible-trained pastors and teachers.
Where biblical knowledge is limited, misunderstandings and unchristian practices can emerge. Church leadership may work hard to address such issues, but without well-trained pastors who are grounded in Scripture, these challenges can persist from generation to generation.
I firmly believe that the most effective antidote to error is not criticism but education. The church needs pastors who understand the Bible thoroughly and who can teach God's Word with wisdom, clarity, and conviction.
Such training requires resources, commitment, and opportunities that are often beyond the reach of ordinary church members.
Christianity and African Culture
Another issue that often causes misunderstanding concerns the relationship between Christianity and African culture.
Some Christians become concerned when they hear that African cultural practices have a place within African churches. They sometimes assume that all African culture is synonymous with ancestor veneration or other spiritual practices that they believe conflict with Christian teaching.
I believe such assumptions oversimplify a much more complex reality.
African culture is rich, diverse, and multifaceted. It cannot be reduced to a single belief, ritual, or worldview. Culture includes language, music, dress, family relationships, moral values, customs, community life, and many other aspects of human experience.
It is helpful to recognise that culture operates on different levels. There is expressive culture, social culture, ethical culture, and ritual or spiritual culture.
A church may wholeheartedly embrace African languages, music, customs of respect, family values, and community solidarity while still questioning or discouraging certain practices that carry particular religious significance.
The real question is not whether African culture matters. It certainly does. The real question is whether any particular practice is consistent with biblical teaching about God, worship, and salvation.
Christianity has always lived within cultures. Beginning in first-century Judaism, the Gospel spread into Greek, Roman, African, and Middle Eastern societies. The early church adopted local languages and social forms to communicate the Gospel effectively. At the same time, it rejected practices that conflicted with biblical faith.
This challenge remains with us today. We must respect culture while remaining faithful to Scripture. We must distinguish between what is cultural and what is theological. Doing so requires mature leadership and sound biblical training.
Why I Have Chosen to Remain in the ZCC
Throughout my years of ministry, I have had opportunities to leave the ZCC and join churches with greater resources.
On several occasions, leaders from other churches approached me with attractive offers. I was promised better financial support, housing, vehicles, and other incentives that would undoubtedly have improved my standard of living.
Yet I declined those offers.
I remained because I believe that God called me to serve where the need is greatest.
Historically, the ZCC has served many ordinary Africans, including people who had little formal education. Many were drawn to African Initiated Churches because they felt misunderstood or marginalised during earlier periods of missionary activity.
Some Africans were pressured to abandon traditional names in favour of European ones. Others faced difficult demands regarding family arrangements and cultural identity. Whether justified or not, many felt alienated.
The ZCC became a spiritual home where they could worship God while maintaining aspects of their cultural identity.
For this reason, I believe the church deserves leaders who can combine deep biblical faith with an understanding of the people they serve.
My Vision for the Future
My vision is simple but ambitious.
I want to be part of a movement that equips pastors, Sunday School teachers, and church leaders with sound biblical knowledge.
Recently, I completed a Sunday School Manual, which has been submitted to church headquarters for approval. My hope is that this resource will strengthen the teaching ministry of our church and help provide solid biblical foundations for the next generation.
I also actively encourage pastors and church workers who are able to read and write to pursue theological education. Whenever possible, I introduce them to opportunities such as the Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) and other learning resources.
Yet many faithful pastors face significant barriers. Some have limited educational backgrounds. Others cannot read or write English fluently, although they are capable ministers in their own African languages.
My desire is to help bridge this gap. With further theological education, I hope to mentor, train, and encourage these servants of God, enabling them to minister more effectively within their communities.
My Appeal for Sponsorship
This is why I am seeking sponsorship for my Associate Bachelor's Degree in Divinity.
At my age, some may wonder why I still wish to study. My answer is simple: because the need remains great, and God has not withdrawn His calling from my life.
I may be seventy-one years old, but I still possess a passion for learning, teaching, and serving. I believe that additional theological training will equip me to contribute even more effectively to the church and to the preparation of future leaders.
Unfortunately, my financial circumstances make it impossible for me to pay the required fees. My old-age grant barely covers daily living expenses, leaving no funds available for further education.
I therefore humbly ask any individual, church, ministry, educational institution, or Christian organisation that shares my vision to consider assisting me financially.
Your contribution would not simply support one elderly student. It would help equip a preacher who is committed to training and encouraging others. The benefits would extend beyond me to pastors, teachers, church members, and communities that may never have access to formal theological training.
Conclusion
For many years, I have attempted to serve faithfully wherever God has placed me. I have prayed for the sick, preached the Gospel, buried the dead, taught believers, and encouraged church leaders. I have sacrificed opportunities for personal gain because I believe my calling is here among the people of the ZCC.
Today I ask for your partnership.
As Isaiah responded to God's call centuries ago, my response remains the same:
"Here I am. Send me."
My willingness to serve is unwavering. My vision is clear. My need is genuine.
With your support, I can obtain the education necessary to strengthen my ministry and help equip others for the work of God's Kingdom.
Thank you for considering my request and for taking the time to hear my story.
Yours faithfully,
Masirheni Robert Mahlaule
ZCC Preacher and Candidate for an Associate Bachelor's Degree in Divinity
Email: mahlaulemr11@outlook.com
Cellphone: +27 65 8100 498

A concise commentary on Galatians

Galatians 1:13-14

Verse: For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

Commentary: Paul shares his past zeal in persecuting Christians, highlighting his transformation.

Application: Embrace change and transformation through faith, regardless of past actions.

Acts 13:42-52
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Did you know?
One of the most overlooked parts of Jesus’ ministry is how often He publicly debated, challenged, and intellectually dismantled the religious leaders inside the Temple courts. These were intense public confrontations filled with tension, authority, and enormous stakes.

Again and again they would attempt to corner Him publicly. And again and again, Jesus answered with astonishing wisdom. The crowds were amazed, while the leaders became increasingly furious.

At times, Jesus directly exposed the motives behind their questions before even answering them. He called out their hypocrisy, pride, performative religion, and the tendency to care more about appearances than genuine holiness.

One of the most striking moments came in Matthew 22. After Jesus answered every challenge brought against Him, the text says: “No one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare ask Him any more questions.”

The most educated religious minds in Israel - men who had spent their lives studying the Law - repeatedly found themselves unable to overcome Him.

These clashes weren’t merely about intelligence or debate skills though. At the deepest level, they were about authority. The religious leaders believed they had the right to define truth, interpret God, and control spiritual life. But Jesus entered the Temple speaking with an authority that startled everyone around Him. He didn’t speak like someone merely “interpreting” truth. He spoke like Someone who was truth itself.

That’s why the confrontations were so explosive. Jesus wasn’t simply offering a new opinion within Judaism. He was claiming divine authority over the Temple, over the Law, over sin, and over life and death itself.