PROCRLAMATION OF THE KING - part 3

 
                        Mathew 7

BEFORE HE COULD SEND HIS DISCIPLES TO SERVE
THEY NEEDED TO HEAR ABOUT JUDGMENT'S RESERVE
THE SECRET TO GREATNESS IS CURBING THE TONGUE
OF LEARNING TO YIELD TO THE WILL OF HIS SON.

SCRIPTURE FORBIDS US FROM HARBORNING A GRUDGE
OF FINDING A FAULT AND BECOMING THEIR JUDGE
THE MOTIVES IN MAN GOD PERCEIVES FROM THE START
SO BEFORE PASSING JUDGMENT EXAMINE YOUR HEART.

THE NEED FOR DISCERNMENT GOD GIVES IF WE ASK
THE SEEKING AND KNOCKING IS PART OF THAT TASK
WHEN SIN LIKE A LOG IS REMOVED FROM OUR SIGHT
WE CAN HELP THOSE AROUND IN A SIMILAR PLIGHT.

THE PHARISEES SOUGHT TO MAKE RULES OF THEIR OWN
THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE WAS ALL THAT WAS SHOWN
BUT GOD'S HOLY STANDARD TRANSFORMS US WITHIN
SO OTHERS EXPERIENCE TRUE FREEDOM FROM SIN.

THE FRUIT-BEARING CHRISTIANS WHO KNOCK, SEEK AND FIND
WILL SHARE FISH AND BREAD WITH THE NEEDY IN MIND
BUT SAD IS THE STORY THAT OFTEN WE SHARE
A STONE OR A SERPENT WITH SO LITTLE CARE.

THE ROAD TO SURRENDER IS NARROW AND STEEP
THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION IS PRICELESS NOT CHEAP
BUT MOST CHOOSE THE WIDE ROAD WITH NO THOUGHT AHEAD
THAT HELL AND DESTRUCTION SOON FOLLOW THE DEAD.

THE FOOLISH MAN BUILDS ON A SURFACE OF SAND
THE WISE ON THE ROCK WHOSE FOUNDATION WILL STAND
THE CHOICE THAT WE MAKE WILL DETERMINE THE PLACE
BETWEEN FALLING AWAY OR WINNING THE RACE.
--B. Pent

PROCLAMATION OF THE KING - part 2

                    Matthew 6

THE MESSAGE THAT JESUS CONTINUED TO TEACH
BEGINS WITH A WARNING TO LIVE WHAT WE PREACH
IF SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT DONE FROM THE HEART
IT PROVES THAT OUR MOTIVES ARE WRONG FROM THE START.

THE FIRST STEP TO SERVICE IS LEARNING TO PRAY
HEEDING HIS WORD THAT APPLIES TO EACH DAY
THE HYPOCRITE WANTS TO IMPRESS WITH MERE WORDS
BUT PRAYER DONE IN SECRET RECEIVES ITS REWARDS.

THE PATTERN OF PRAYER OUTLINED FROM THE START
INCLUDES SEVERAL AREAS HE LONGED TO IMPART
NOT TO BE RITUALLY UTTERED BY ROTE
BUT TO INCLUDE THEM, WERE REASONS HE SPOKE.

PRAYER TO THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF HIS SON
DRAWS ALL OUR FOCUS ON THE GODHEAD AS ONE
THEN HOLINESS LEADS US TO SEEKING HIS WILL
SO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN US HE'LL FULFILL.

THE BREAD THAT WE ASK FOR HE'LL DAILY PROVIDE
AND WITH HONEST CONFESSION HIS PEACE WILL ABIDE
THUS PROVIDENCE GUIDES US FROM SIN'S EVIL WAYS
WITH VICTORY ASSURED TO THE END OF OUR DAYS.

IF YOUR PRAYER IS A BURDEN BECAUSE OF LIFE'S CARE
OR YOU'RE SEEKING RELEASE FROM A SIN YOU CAN'T SHARE
THE PRACTICE OF FASTING IF DONE FROM THE HEART
WILL LEAD TO DELIVERANCE AND CLEANSING IMPART.

THE SEASONED DISCIPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD
WILL CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE MASTER'S CLEAR WORD
EARTH'S TREASURES NO LONGER ARE HIS TO CONTROL
SINCE GOD HAS POSSESSION OF BODY AND SOUL.

IF HIS KINGDOM IS FIRST IN OUR THOUGHTS EVERY DAY
THE TEMPTATION TO WORRY WILL SOON FADE AWAY
FOR THE GOD OF THE SPARROW AND FLOWERS THAT GROW
WILL PROVIDE EVERY NEED WITH RICH BLESSINGS BELOW.
--B. Pent

PROCLAMATION OF THE KING - part 1

                                 Matthew 5

JESUS BEGAN HIS DISCIPLESHIP COURSE
BY CLEARLY REVEALING ITS MYSTERY SOURCE
WHERE CONDUCT AND LIFE ARE LIVED OUT EVERY DAY
AS SALT FLAVORS FOOD OR AS LIGHT SHINES THE WAY.

THERE ON BEATITUDE MOUNTAIN HE STOOD
EX PLAINING HOW BLESSEDNESS COULD BE SECURED
FOR HEARTS THAT ARE OPENED WHEN HEARING HIS VOICE
ARE INWARDLY CHANGED WHEN THEY MAKE HIM THEIR CHOICE.

THE PATHWAY TO SERVICE BEGINS AT THE CROSS
WHERE THOSE POOR IN SPIRIT COUNT ALL THINGS AS LOSS
IN MEEKNESS THEY HUNGER FOR PURENESS OF HEART
WITH MERCY AND PEACE AS THEIR GUIDE FROM THE START.

YET PROOF THAT A SOLDIER IS READY FOR WAR
ARE TESTS OF ENDURANCE WHEN GIVEN A CHORE
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL CROWN EVERY SON
WHO WALKS IN THE LIGHT OF THE CRUCIFIED ONE.

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE KINGDOM COMMANDS
BUT NOT LIKE THE RITUAL RELIGION DEMANDS
RIGHTEOUSNESS TEACHES THAT TRUTH IS FULFILLED
WHEN LOVE MOTIVATES US TO FOLLOW HIS WILL.

THE LORD THEN EXPLAINED THE REAL ISSUES INVOLVED
WHERE ATTITUDE PROBLEMS MUST FIRST BE RESOLVED
IF ANGER AND WRATH CAUSE A BROTHER TO FAIL
ITS LIKE MURDERING A MAN AND ENDING IN JAIL.

BUT ISSUES OF MORALS ARE FAR DEEPER STILL
WHEN LUST STIRS THE PASSIONS ENSLAVING THE WILL
THE SINS OF ADULTERY THAT LEAD TO DIVORCE
FIND MISERY FOLLOWS TO THE END OF LIFE'S COURSE.

THE FINAL TWO MATTERS WHEN SERVING THE KING
IS NOT TO GET EVEN BUT LEAVE IT TO HIM
LOVING A PERSON WHOSE HATRED IS SHOWN
PROVES TO THE FATHER TRUE QUALITIES KNOWN.
--B. Pent

PREPARATION OF THE KING - part 3

                     Matthew 3-4

THEN SUDDENLY A VOICE WAS HEARD
IT WAS A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD
"REPENT!" WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST'S CRY
"THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD IS NIGH!"

THE CROWDS BEGAN TO FOLLOW HIM
AS THEY REPENTED FOR THEIR SIN
BUT OTHERS MOCKED AND WALKED AWAY
WITH HARDENED HEARTS LIKE DRIED OUT CLAY.

AS JESUS WALKED THE JORDAN SHORE
THE PROPHET SPOKE OF HIM THE MORE:
"BEHOLD THE LAMB FOR SINNER'S SLAIN!"
"HE IS THE ONE FOR WHOM I CAME!"

SO WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED THAT DAY
THE SPIRIT CAME ON HIM TO STAY
AS PROOF HIS MISSION HERE BELOW
WAS MEANT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO KNOW.

THEN FORTY DAYS OF TESTING CAME
AS SATAN TRIED TO BRING HIM SHAME
BUT POWER OVER SIN WAS SHOWN
THAT VICTORY COMES THROUGH CHRIST ALONE!

THOUGH JOHN WAS CRUELLY PUT IN JAIL
HIS MESSAGE DID NOT DIE OR FAIL
FOR CHRIST PROCLAIMED WITH EQUAL ZEAL
"THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD IS NEAR!"

HE THEN CALLED TWELVE TO FOLLOW HIM
TO BEAR THE LOVE OF GOD WITHIN
SO AS HE HEALED ALL THOSE IN NEED
THE WORLD WOULD SEE, TAKE NOTE AND HEED.
--B. Pent

PREPARATION OF THE KING - part 2

  
                               Matthew 2

SOME WISE MEN SAW A BRIGHT NEW STAR
AND FOLLOWED FROM A COUNTRY FAR
TO BRING AS GIFTS TO ONE FORETOLD
SWEET FRANKINCENSE WITH MYRRH AND GOLD.

BUT WHEN KING HEROD HEARD THE NEWS
HIS ANGER FLARED AGAINST THE JEWS
AND SO HE ASKED WHERE HE COULD FIND
THIS FUTURE KING THEY HAD IN MIND.

BUT WHEN THE MAGI FOUND THE BOY
THEY WORSHIPED HIM WITH HOLY JOY
AND SO THEIR HEARTS WERE CHANGED THAT DAY
BUT TRAVELED HOME ANOTHER WAY.

AS THREATS OF DEATH CAME FROM THE KING
AND ROMAN SWORDS BEGAN TO SWING
THE FAMILY OF THE CHILD WENT DOWN
TO HIDE IN ONE SMALL EGYPT TOWN.

IN TIME THE ANGEL CALLED AND SAID
THAT HEROD HAD BEEN STRICKEN DEAD
SO NAZARETH THEN BECAME THEIR HOME
YET IN THOSE YEARS SO LITTLE KNOWN.
--B. Pent

PREPARATION OF THE KING - part 1

                           Matthew 1

FOUR HUNDRED SILENT YEARS WENT BY
NO VOICE WAS HEARD, NO PROPHET'S CRY
FOR DARKNESS VEILED GOD'S HOLY FACE
BECAUSE OF SINS FROM JUDAH'S RACE.

THEN SOVEREIGN LOVE REACHED OUT ONCE MORE
WITH PROMISE HE WOULD SOON RESTORE
THE YEARS THE LOCUSTS ATE THEIR GRAIN
AND BLESS THEIR LAND AGAIN WITH RAIN.

THE PROHET SPOKE OF FUTURE DAYS
WHEN BLESSINGS WOULD GIVE WAY TO PRAISE
AND HEAVEN'S KINGDOM WOULD REMAIN
THROUGHOUT MESSIAH'S WORLD-WIDE REIGN.

THE DRAMA ON LIFE'S STAGE TAKES PLACE
AS MATTHEW'S BOOK BEGINS TO TRACE
THE STORY OF THE SAVIOR'S BIRTH
WHO CAME FROM GLORY TO THIS EARTH.

THE GENEALOGY EXPLAINS
WHY DAVID'S LINE ALONE REMAINS
THE RIGHT OF MARY'S VIRGIN SON
TO RULE AS ZION'S CHOSEN ONE.

WHEN JOSEPH THEN APPEARS ON STAGE
HIS TROUBLED HEART SEEMED FILLED WITH RAGE
SINCE HIS BETROTHED MADE THIS MISTAKE
DIVORCE BECAME THE PATH TO TAKE.

BUT WHEN THE ANGEL CLOTHED IN WHITE
REVEALED THE MYSTERY THAT SAME NIGHT
HE TOOK THE VIRGIN AS HIS WIFE
IN SIMPLE TRUST THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS THEN TOOK PLACE
EMMANUEL-GOD TO ADAM'S RACE
THAT PROPHECIES SO LONG FORETOLD
COULD NOW IN-FLESH GOD'S LOVE UNFOLD..
---B. Pent