Mountain Valley Church of God

Fasting and Prayer Matthew 6:16-18

Jesus’ words on fasting, reveal how God intended this practice to be, and how we, like the Pharisees, can mess it up in our flesh. Jesus looks at sincerity in the conduct of spiritual disciplines, using the example of fasting. 16 “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, […]

The Wake-Up Call – Ephesians 1:1-21

Matthew 6:13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with the worship of God, and His Glory.  In giving God the Glory, we are reminded why we pray – we do it because the kingdom and the power and the glory are God’s, and that’s what gives us the confidence that our prayers are in safe hands. God […]

Matthew 6:13: And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:13 includes the last two petitions in the Lord’s Prayer.  Do not lead us into temptation. The Greek word here is:  peirasmós and can mean temptation, in the negative sense of being tempted to do evil, or in a positive sense, as in “to test”, in the sense of proving something’s worth or value […]

Forgive us as we Forgive – Matthew 6:12, 14-15

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors Forgive us Why is forgiveness necessary? God is just (see Deut 10:17-18, Gen 18:25, etc.). God loves mankind, and all people are guilty of sinning against God (Rom 3:28, Psalm 51:4).   All are are accountable to God.  Rom 3:19-20. Achieving forgiveness was Jesus’ mission:  […]

Our Daily Bread – Matthew 6:11

Jesus’ petition for bread is a call to for God to provide in meeting our basic human needs.  Matthew says give us this day our daily bread, and Luke in 11:3 says Give us each day our daily bread.  Bread God commanded that only unleavened bread would be eaten during the Passover to commemorate the […]

Your Kingdom Come – In our lives

In our lives When we pray “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, it also means we’re praying that God’s will is done in our own lives.  We want to be in charge.  We want to be in charge.  We want to be in the driver’s seat.   We […]

Your kingdom Come

Matthew 6:10 It’s important to understand the meaning of the phrase “The Kingdom of God”, because it was central theme of Jesus Christ’s preaching and teaching.  The phrase ‘Kingdom of God’ (also ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ or ‘Kingdom of Light’) appears more than 80 times in the New Testament.  Origin & Meaning of The Kingdom of […]

Hallowed Be Your Name Pt 2 – Matthew 6:9

Jehova-rophe Jehova-rophe (ro’-phay) means Jehovah Heals.  And it’s not just healing like we often think of it—a healing of some physical or mental malady.  It’s a word that means to restore, cure or heal not only in the physical sense, but in the spiritual and moral sense as well.  We read in Exodus 15:22-23 that […]

Hallowed Be Your Name – Mathew 6:9

Hallowed be Your Name The word hallow means to sanctify or to revere.  To regard as pure, consecrated, venerated.  It is the Jewish practice to omit the name of God in oral speech, so as not to take His name in vain (and so to obey the 3rd commandment, in Exodus 20:7) or without the […]

Our Model Prayer to Our Father

9 “Pray, then, in this way:  ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Prayer is our biggest need after Salvation, since it’s how we communicate with God.  It is also the highest activity that we can be engaged in, since it is God with Whom we are communicating.  We are at our best, […]

He Knows Before you Ask (Matthew 6:5-8)

As we look at Matthew chapter 6 verse 5-8 today, we find Jesus continuing to instruct His disciples on how they are to conduct themselves as Citizens of Heaven in their relationship with God.  He begins, just as He did last week, with a word of warning about bad habits that they should not pick […]

Give Alms in Secret

As we begin Mathew Chapter 6 we examine what a proper relationship with God looks like in our actions.  We’ll examine how our actions in serving God demonstrate the quality of our relationship with God.  We’ll look at examples of practicing righteousness, and we’ll see how God intended them to be, how we, like the […]

Summer Creation Seminar

True sons of the Father

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Last week, […]

Love your Enemies Matthew 5:43-45

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 […]

Turn The Other Cheek – Matt. 5:39-42

39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; Literally, this says:“you are not to set yourself against one who does evil”.  We are not supposed to seek our own retribution against them, or insist on it (Rom 12:17-21).  How we exceed the requirements of the law is by doing […]

An Eye for an Eye—Mathew 5:38

An Eye for an Eye—Mathew 5:38 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ This saying, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” cuts to the heart of fallen human nature. God’s law is perfect, and needs no revision, but we tend to misapply […]

A Father’s Faith

A Father’s Faith; John 4:46-54: Most of the crowd would not receive His witness that He was the Messiah.  Instead of believing, they just followed Jesus around for the spectacle of the signs and wonders they’d seen Him do at the Passover feast in Jerusalem, hoping that they would see Him perform more miracles in […]

Walk in Truth, Walk with God-Matt. 5:33-37

33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great […]

Marriage Ordained from the Beginning and Fulfilled in Christ

31 “Now it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Jesus _________________ the destructive nature of sin, and what failure to cut […]

Body or Soul? Mathew 5:29-30

29 Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away […]

Lust of the Eye

Mathew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. You have heard that it was said Jesus is going to correct and clarify the […]

Reconcile While There is Time Matthew 5:25-26

 25Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you […]

Exodus 2:1-10 A Few Good Women

What began as fear of the large population of Israelites in the land of Goshen, within the Egyptian’s borders had turned to panic.  God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham to make his descendants “as numerous as the stars or the sands of the sea”.  God’s fulfillment is the very rationale that the enemy of […]

Ministry of Reconciliation Mathew 5:23-24

23 Therefore, if you are presenting your [n]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [o]offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [p]offering. 23 Therefore, Last week, we were told about the angry, hateful, murderous attitude that we should not have, and […]

Ministry of Reconciliation Matthew 5:23-24

23 Therefore, if you are presenting your [n]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [o]offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [p]offering. 23 Therefore, Last week, we were told about the angry, hateful, murderous attitude that we should not have, and […]

Matthew 5:21-22: Sin begins in the heart

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You […]

Mathew 5:21-22: Sin begins in the heart

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You […]

Matthew 5:18-20-Surpassing Righteousness

18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!  God’s word is forever, immutable, unchanging, and God watches over His word to make sure that this is the case. Truly God has preserved His word.  So, […]

Mathew 5:18-20-Surpassing Righteousness

18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!  God’s word is forever, immutable, unchanging, and God watches over His word to make sure that this is the case. Truly God has preserved His word.  So, […]

Jesus fulfills the Law Mathew 5:17-19

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; Jesus’ audience were Jewish disciples who had been taught by the Pharisees about the law.  In their mind, keeping the requirements of the law, as interpreted by the Pharisees was what being righteous was all about.  Jesus, needed to teach them about how […]

Jesus fulfills the Law Matthew 5:17-19

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; Jesus’ audience were Jewish disciples who had been taught by the Pharisees about the law.  In their mind, keeping the requirements of the law, as interpreted by the Pharisees was what being righteous was all about.  Jesus, needed to teach them about how […]

Easter: He is Risen. Mark 16:1-7

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. Mark 15:42 lets us know that the crucifixion had occurred on the day, before the Sabbath that evening, and that there had not been enough time to properly prepare Jesus’ […]

Palm Sunday

With Pastor John Brint

Glorify God With your Light (Mathew 5:14-16)

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. We talked […]

You are the light of the world Mathew 5:14

One of the most surprising things about what Jesus says is who he’s saying it to—a group of fishermen and tradesmen, former tax collectors and zealots; people that the religious leaders looked down on as insignificant.  But Jesus says that His disciples, and only His disciples, are the light of the world.  The world needs […]

You are the Salt of the Earth

You are the salt of the earth Jesus makes this verse personal.  If we are disciples of Christ, He’s talking to us.  Salt is a necessity.  The first thing to understand is that salt is a necessity of life.  Salt is a preservative Before refrigeration was invented, salt was valuable everywhere as a preservative.  Salt […]

Overcoming During Persecution

Mathew 5:11-12 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The more we identify with […]

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Actions motivated out of love for those around us, are not always well-received.  And it is this very action of peacemaking between God and man which is the action most likely to result in people coming against you.  Rather than describing a further characteristic of a Citizen of Heaven, it describes the result of this […]

Warriors Who Wage Peace-Mathew 5:9

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” When God created man, there was peace between God and Adam, and Eve.  It was the decision of Adam and Eve to disobey God that broke the peace.  There are two reasons for lack of peace in the world:  the opposition of Satan […]

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

A clean heart The word for pure here Katharos (kahthar-Ros) means clean, clear pure.  And it was a word that the Jewish people of the first century were used to hearing, especially from the Pharisees, who emphasized ceremonial cleanness. Focusing on their manmade rules had caused them to live their lives working against God, keeping […]

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the merciful, Mercy, eleos, in the New Testament, is compassion for people in need.  It is an understanding of the wretched state that someone is in, combined with the desire to give them relief from their suffering.  Mercy Starts with a Merciful God Ephesians 2:4-5 says  4 But God, being rich in mercy, […]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

Righteousness (Proverbs 4:18) The phrase “the path of the righteous” is the chosen steps that God has determined that we are to walk in, the way to God through Jesus laid out for each Citizen of Heaven individually, and yet we also get to walk our paths in parallel, beside other believers during parts of […]

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Now first it’s important to understand that meek does not mean weak. the gentle The Greek word praeis is translated meek in KJV was often used to describe a gentle breeze as opposed to a fierce biting wind, or a horse that was well-trained and under control.  When it is applied to human temperament, it […]

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

We tend to consider those who mourn as unfortunate.  No-one is happy about mourning—if they’re happy, then they aren’t really mourning, but the joy of salvation is something that is independent of the circumstances of the moment.  People have this idea that if they could do whatever they want, they would be happy, when experience […]

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit—Mathew 5:3

Now that they are chosen, Jesus must teach them what it means to be His followers, what it means to live their lives as Christians and what message that they are to teach others later.  This is the first among the five discourses of Jesus, or sermons listed in Mathew.  The Sermon on the Mount […]

Repent, the Kingdom of God is at Hand

 It helps our appreciation of what the Sermon on the Mount is all about to put it in the larger context of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  The Sermon on the Mount took place around the area of the Sea of Galilee, in the Northeast of Israel, and in fact in some areas that today are part […]

Luke 2:1-7: Jesus Born in Just the Right Place

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Caesar Augustus had brought the Roman Republic so much under his control, that finally he had transformed it into the Roman Empire.  […]

Luke 1:39-56 Blessed are They Who Believe What the Lord has Said

When we last left Mary, her words in reply to the Angel Gabriel who had told her that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah were recorded in Luke 1 verse 38, when she said 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your […]