Ancient Words

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What is in Your Heart? Part 2

Matthew 5:38 – 6:4

38 You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” 

39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors to so?

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

How we look at the Scripture reveals what is truly in our heart.

How will you answer the question, “What is in my heart?”

Before you go, I want to thank you for listening or downloading this podcast. If you were blessed by today’s study, please consider leaving us a review wherever you listen. This will help us grow and reach more people. 

We have some exciting news coming up soon, so please remember to check back on our website or on our Facebook or Twitter page for any announcements. We can be found on major social media platforms @crowministries.

With the recent addition of podcasts to Facebook, you can now follow our page there and have access to this podcast feed at all times. Again, we are on major social media platforms @crowministries.

To give to this ministry, please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com/donate to give securely via PayPal. 

Please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com to read our blog, and to catch up on what is going on in the ministry. 

Remember this Bible Study will be coming out monthly for the time being. Come back each month or subscribe to our feed to make sure you never miss a moment with us.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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What is in Your Heart? Part 1

Matthew 5:21-37

21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.”

22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!” shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, “You fool!” shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you over to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

27 You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery.”

28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

31 Furthermore it has been said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.”

32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.”

34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No.” For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

We have some exciting news coming up soon, so please remember to check back on our website or on our Facebook or Twitter page for any announcements. We can be found on major social media platforms @crowministries.

With the recent addition of podcasts to Facebook, you can now follow our page there and have access to this podcast feed at all times. Again, we are on major social media platforms @crowministries.

Please take a moment to go to our website at www.jerrycrowministries.com and check the blog page. Here you can find other teachings from Rev. Jerry Crow. These brief, devotional style teachings are there to encourage you in your walk with God.

Thank you all and may God bless you richly in the mercies of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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Jesus and the Law

Matthew 5:17-20

17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of theses commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

I The Law

A.      Ceremonial Law – Sacrificial System

a.       Daily Sacrifices

b.       Annual Sacrifices

c.       Sin Sacrifices

B.      Civil Law – Governmental System

a.       Statutes

b.       Ordinances

c.       Rules

C.      Moral Law – Interpersonal System

a.       Ten Commandments

b.       Basis for the Civil Law

II Jesus and the Law

A.      Ceremonial Law

a.       Jesus fulfilled the Ceremonial Law in His death

b.       The torn veil allowed all men access to the Holy of Holies

c.       After the Temple was destroyed in 70AD, sacrifices could no longer be offered

B.      Civil Law

a.       Jesus was born and lived under the Civil Law

b.       He never broke the Civil Law, thus fulfilling it perfectly

c.       After 70AD there was no need for the Civil Law

C.      Moral Law

a.       Jesus was tempted

           i.      Matthew 4:1-17

b.       Jesus did not sin

            i.      Hebrews 4:14-15

III Our Response to the Law

A.      Ceremonial Law

a.       None

           i.      The Ceremonial Law was fulfilled in Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection

B.      Civil Law

a.       None

            i.      The Civil Law was fulfilled when Israel rejected Jesus as their King

C.      Moral Law

a.       It is only the Moral Law that we have a responsibility to today

b.       By keeping the Moral Law, we will fulfill verse sixteen that we looked at last time

To give to this ministry, please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com/donate to give securely via PayPal. 

Please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com to read our blog, and to catch up on what is going on in the ministry. 

Remember this Bible Study will be coming out monthly for the time being. Come back each month or subscribe to our feed to make sure you never miss a moment with us.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

13. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Biblical uses for salt.

1.       Salt was used in offerings and sacrifices.

Leviticus 2:13

Mark 9:49

2.       Salt was used to make incense for the Tabernacle.

Exodus 30:34-35

3.       Salt was used in covenants.

II Chronicles 13:5

4.       Salt was used to destroy fields where crops were planted. The salt would mix with the soil and when water would get into the soil it would cause the water to become salt-water meaning no crops could grow in those fields.

Judges 9:45 

5.       Salt was used as an antiseptic and wound cleansing agent.

Ezekiel 16:4

6.       Salt was used to season food. Even as far back as Job, which is widely considered the oldest book in the Bible, salt is mentioned as part of the culinary world. 

Job 6:6

7.       Salt was also commonly used, and in some cases still is today, as a preservative for meats. In times before refrigeration, meats could become rancid within a short time of being processed. In order to delay the progress of this decay in the meat, salt would be poured on and rubbed into the meat and the meat would be dried. This preservation would extend the life of the meat far beyond what was normally expected without preservation. 

Now, the most interesting thing about salt and light is that neither of them are greatly effective in singular amounts. Have you ever used a single grain of salt to season anything? Have you ever seen a city with only one single light shining in it letting people know where the city is? Of course not! While one single light may be somewhat effective, it is never going to be as strong as a group of ten or twenty or thirty lights coming together to shine together to push back darkness. One single grain of salt is never going to be enough to season a steak, but when you use just the right amount, it is perfection. 

In other words, none of us should be trying to do our work on our own. God has a work for us to do and we should be doing it, but never alone. Find those who are like-minded and join together. Get into a local church and join in fellowship with other believers.

To give to this ministry, please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com/donate to give securely via PayPal. 

Please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com to read our blog, and to catch up on what is going on in the ministry. 

Remember this Bible Study will be coming out monthly for the time being. Come back each month or subscribe to our feed to make sure you never miss a moment with us.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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This is the first of a series of studies we will be doing on the Sermon on the Mount. Join us each month as we continue this study into the words of Jesus.

Matthew 5:1-12

1.       And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

2.       Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3.       Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

4.       Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

5.       Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth

6.       Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

7.       Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

8.       Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

9.       Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called the sons of God.

10.   Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

11.   Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

12.   Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

History of the Gospel of Matthew

Author: Matthew the Tax Collector, identified as Levi in the other Gospels.

Audience: First century Jewish community.

Objective: To present Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah.

As we look at these verses from verse three until verse twelve, we can see the life of a believer. We begin as a believer understanding how poor in spirit we are, and we cry out to God in mourning over our sin. He forgives us our sins and sends us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then begins to change us. He makes us meek where we were formerly temperamental. He makes us hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God where we only wanted to fulfill the desires of our flesh. He shows us how to be merciful when mercy is against our nature. He causes us to read and study the Word of God so we can become pure in heart; he also helps us to understand the Word of God because the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the natural man. He helps us to make peace with our neighbors, those inside and outside the household of faith. And finally, it is only by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can withstand persecution. Then verse twelve shows us that our reward for enduring those persecutions will be great in heaven. 

These verses take us from the moment of our conversion through the end of our lives and I had never seen it before. That is why I love this book. It truly is alive and reveals itself to us more and more every time we open its pages.

Please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com to read our blog, connect with us, catch up on what is going on in the ministry.
Also, from our website you have the opportunity to give via the Donate page. If you are able to give to this ministry to help us reach around the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, please do so. It is 100% secure and 100% will go to this ministry.

Remember this Bible Study will be coming out monthly for the time being. Come back each month or subscribe to our feed to make sure you never miss a moment with us.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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Romans 12:9-21

Personal Duties

Romans 12:9

                Matthew 22:37-38

                John 13:34

                Matthew 19:16

Family Duties

Romans 12:10-13

                John 13:34-35

                Hebrew 6:10-12

                Proverbs 18:9

                Galatians 6:9-10

                James 1:2-4

                1 Thessalonians 5:17

                1 Timothy 2:8

Duties to Others

Romans 12:14-16

Duties to Those Who Consider Us Enemies

Romans 12:17-21

Please go to www.jerrycrowministries.com to read our blog, catch up on what is going on in the ministry, and to have the opportunity to donate to help us continue bringing this study to you. 

Remember this Bible Study will be coming out monthly for the time being. Come back each month or subscribe to our feed to make sure you never miss a moment with us.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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Hello everyone. I just wanted to give everyone a quick update as to some of the things we have been seeing here recently. I also want to apologize to everyone for not having a regular podcast schedule. For more information, please to go www.jerrycrowministries.com for updates on the ministry, new devotionals and blog posts, to contact us, or to give to this ministry. 

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As followers of Christ, how are we to see ourselves? What is the identity of a believer?

I.                     We are dead to sin and made alive in Christ. Romans 6:1-14

II.                   We are to be led by the Holy Spirit in all things. Romans 8:1-17

III.                 We are the children of God and heirs of His kingdom through Christ. Galatians 3:26-4:7

IV.                We are citizens of Heaven. Philippians 3:20-21

V.                  We are the people of God. 1 Peter 2:4-10

We are no longer just human beings. As believers we are given a new identity. We no longer belong to ourselves or to the world, but we belong to God. The creator of the universe now calls us His children. The savior of the world now calls us His brothers and sisters. We are no longer a sinner, but we are a child of the Most High God. Our sin nature is defeated and now it is up to us to walk out these things. Learn to live according to the work He has done in our lives.

In our next study together, we will look at how we should live as followers of Christ. Now that we know who we are, it is important for us to know how we should live in our world.

Please take a moment to go to our website at www.jerrycrowministries.com and check the blog page. Here you can find other teachings from Rev. Jerry Crow. These brief, devotional style teachings are there to encourage you in your walk with God.

While you are there, please consider making a donation to help us further this ministry. Your donation of any amount will help us to reach more and more people through our online ministries and will help us to take the Gospel of the Kingdom of God into the entire world. Click on the donate tab and you can securely donate through PayPal. 

Thank you and may God bless you through our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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Overcoming Sin

1 John 2 15-17

15. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.

17. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

That which has been is what will be

That which is done is what will be done

And there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”?

It has already been in ancient times before us.

Three Areas All Sin Falls Into "The Devil's Trinity"

The Lust of the Flesh

The Lust of the Eyes

The Pride of Life

Eve Tempted and Sinned

Genesis 3:6-7

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Jesus Tempted and Did Not Sin

Matthew 4:1-11

1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4. But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
5. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 
6. And said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’
7. Jesus said to him, “It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
8. Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10. The Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
11. Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

 It is the Word which guides us. 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

The Word is profitable to us.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Word will never pass away.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35

For more information about, or to give to, Jerry Crow Ministries, please visit us online at jerrycrowministries.com or you can find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

We would love to hear from you.

Bearing Fruit

Imagine the grape vine. One of the branches on the vine has your name on it. The name of the vine is Jesus.

John 15:1-8

Picture the scene with Jesus and His disciples.

·         After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples

·         After the institution of the Lord’s Supper, or communion

·         After Judas Iscariot left the fold to betray Jesus

·         After Jesus gives a new commandment to love one another

·         After He tells them He is the only way to the Father

·         After He tells them the Father is revealed in Him

·         After He promises to send the Holy Spirit

1-3 The job of the vinedresser is to plant the vine and tend to its growth.

4 “Abide” means to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy.

Stay in relation to Jesus!

5-6 Charles Spurgeon comments on verse six.

7 Benefit of relationship to Jesus

8 Bearing fruit glorifies the Father and is a mark of discipleship

What is the fruit we are called to bear

Galatians 5:22

Paul tells us what kind of fruit a believer should be producing: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Examine ourselves and ask the Father to prune off of us what needs to be taken away so we may produce fruit and glorify Him.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Music: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth (Public Domain.) Arranged and performed by Ginger Manning. Recorded and mastered by Gordon Manning. 

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