Fruitful Living

The Sermon on The Mount (Part III)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Jesus warned as He began His public ministry in Galilee” – Matt. 4:17. “His message quickly spread, and huge crowds came to hear Him from Galilee, from nearby Syria and the Decapolis, and from as far away as Jerusalem, Judea, and east of the Jordan River” – Matt.4:24-25

INTRODUCTION

We publish this week, part three of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 where Jesus teaches a large group of potential followers what it really means to follow Him and be a part of God’s kingdom. The sermon as we have already intimated, contains a powerful and practical revelation of the principles and standards by which God expects Christians to live. Living up to these standards is only possible through faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

FASTING

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16-18

LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matt. 6:19-24

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matt. 6:25-34

JUDGING OTHERS

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. – Matt. 7:1-6

ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! – Matt. 7:7-11

THE GOLDEN RULE

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[q] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matt. 7:12-14

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matt. 7:15-20

I NEVER KNEW YOU

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matt. 7:21-23

BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matt. 7:24-27

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

THE WORD OF GOD!

Stay blessed!

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By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author

Fruitful Living

Qur’anic Evidence on Environmental Responsibility (Part 2)

Allah draws our attention to the divine wisdom in creating the earth and subjugating its resources for human benefit:

“It is He Who created for you all that is on the earth.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:29).

“And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth. Behold, in that are signs indeed for those who reflect.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45:13).

These verses affirm that the natural world is a divine gift created for human benefit, but not for reckless exploitation.

The trust (Amaanah) placed upon mankind requires careful and sustainable use, respecting the rights of future generations and all other creatures.

Islam and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 – Clean Water

and Sanitation

Clean water and hygiene are essential for life and spiritual purity. Islam obliges ablution (wudu) and cleanliness as part of daily worship.

The preservation of life (Hifz al- Nafs) is one of the five objectives of Shariah, and access to clean water and sanitation plays a key role in achieving it.

SDG 13 – Climate Action

Islam calls for moderation in consumption and energy use. Wastefulness (Israf) is condemned:

“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and the devil is ever ungrateful to his Lord.”

(Surah Al-Isra, 17:27).

Climate change, driven by overuse of fossil fuels and deforestation, threatens life on earth.

Muslims are taught to protect air quality, plant trees, and reduce carbon emissions—principles that resonate with SDG 13.

SDG 14 – Life below water

Oceans and marine ecosystems are under threat from pollution and overfishing. The Prophet warned against contaminating water:

“Do not urinate in stagnant water which people use.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 282).

This Hadith underscores early Islamic environmental regulations aimed at preserving clean water and marine life.

SDG 15 – Life on Land

Islamic teachings are rich in directives for land preservation. Allah warns: “And the earth we have spread out, and placed therein firm mountains and caused to grow therein all kinds of things in due proportion.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:19).

Tree felling without cause, soil erosion, and habitat destruction are all contrary to Islamic ethics.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

Fruitful Living

Why Should I forgive others? (Final)

Forgiveness is thenhigher way

Paul acknowledges the gravity of Onesimus’ offense. Legally and ethically, Onesimus had done wrong. Under Roman law, Philemon had every right to punish him. Yet Paul calls him to choose a higher path—grace.

“For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever” (v. 15). Paul reframes the pain of separation as a providential opportunity for lasting unity.

As Christians, we’re invited to see beyond the offense and choose the eternal perspective. Forgiveness isn’t minimising the pain—it’s maximising the grace of God. It’s choosing to imitate Christ, who bore our sin without bitterness.

We are a forgiven people

Years in ministry often reveal a painful pattern: unresolved conflict and an unwillingness to forgive can cripple individuals and entire communities. Families drift. Churches divide. And the gospel is obscured by pride and pain.

Someone said something. Someone got offended. Someone refused to forgive. And so, healing never happened. Every time forgiveness is withheld, the Body of Christ suffers. But when we take steps to reconcile, we bear witness to the redemptive power of the gospel.

Forgiveness is more than an emotional release—it is a spiritual act of obedience. It puts God’s grace on display. It makes visible the invisible love of Christ.

Are you struggling

to forgive ?

Here are five helpful questions to evaluate your heart:

1. Do I feel anger or anxiety when I think about this person?

2. Do I secretly wish for them to suffer as I did?

3. Would I serve or help them if they needed it?

4. Can I sincerely pray for their well-being?

5. Would I be upset if God blessed them?

These questions don’t condemn us—they guide us. They help us identify areas where grace is still needed, where healing is still possible.

CONCLUSION

Forgiveness is one of the most Christlike things we can do. It doesn’t ignore justice—it entrusts it to God. It doesn’t excuse the offense—it acknowledges the cost and chooses love anyway.

Is there a Philemon in your life? Someone you need to forgive? Or are you more like Onesimus—longing to return but unsure if you’ll be received?

Today is a good day to choose grace. For the sake of the gospel, the Church, and your own soul, why not begin the process of forgiveness?

Let’s make this commitment together: By the grace of Christ, I will pursue unity, forgive freely, and live in the freedom that only forgiveness brings.