Scripture Union Daily Guide 16th April 2021, Friday Message
TOPIC: Consider What You Say!
Opening Prayer: Oh Lord, grant me spiritual insight into the truth of your word as I study it.
TEXT: Matthew 12:22 – 37
Question(s) for Reflection
• What does the passage teach about God the Father, God the Son or God the Holy Spirit? • What is God revealing to me in this passage?
The multitudes and the Pharisees saw the same miracle but reached opposite conclusions. Read vs.23&24. Our Lord casts out a demon; and the multitudes were amazed but for the Pharisees He does it “by the prince of the devils.” This was an absurd charge. However, the Lord Jesus explains that it was unreasonable to suppose that the devil would pull down his own kingdom; “Satan cast out Satan.” There is nothing too absurd and unreasonable for men to say when they are thoroughly set against religion.
What is the place of v.29 in witnessing and mission? Read vs.31&32 again and note the warnings. To see clear evidence of the work of the Spirit’s power and link it with the devil is to sin against the Holy Spirit. Likewise, continual and deliberate rejection of the Holy Spirit’s witness in one’s heart may cause one to lose the capacity to repent. See Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 3:8-13 and Romans 1:28. What warning is given in vs.36-37?
Our words expose the state of our hearts. The lips only utter what the mind conceives. How many idle, foolish and unprofitable words have you spoken? One writer said that; “a profane scoff may stick in the minds of those who hear it, long after the tongue that spoke it is dead”.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
• Ask God to forgive you of any idle word spoken and, by God’s grace, to be more careful in the way you use your tongue. • Pray for Christian writers, artistes and producers.
Offer a Prayer of Faith in Line With
• Lev. 25; Rev. 3
Scripture Union Daily Guide 16th April 2021.Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.