By David Brenneman
"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ” Matthew 15:1-9.
What does this have to do with today? Much, actually.
There's more flavors of denominations and offshoots of those denominations than anyone can shake a stick at. People get offended and leave and start another one.
Rather than persistence in teaching accountability towards repentance a sidestepping happens and the offender is never corrected for their actions against God's Word.
False teachers and false prophets will be a widespread problem the closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ for His true Church.
Saw, briefly, someone's rant about their personal perceptions of what the church should be going through and if it wasn't widespread persecutions then it wasn't the true Church. To quote Paul I didn't entertain them for even an hour.
While indeed there are more Christians being killed today than at the beginning of the Church in the book of Acts, those who aren't being persecuted are no less a part of the body of Christ than those who are.
We know that the Spirit places each one in the body of Christ as He sees fit. In your body there's parts that take way more abuse than other parts. Your jaw gets a workout in eating, drinking and talking. Your legs and feet take the brunt of your mobility. Your arms, hands and fingers deal with everything from sustaining your body with food, clothing to defense of it...and everything in between. The rest of your body is along for the ride.
We shouldn't take what we hear at face value especially when we are considering a word from God. The Berean Church was well known for searching the Bible to see if what they were being told was true to the Word of God.
We certainly shouldn't entertain anyone who preaches or teaches anything contrary to what the Word of God says. Especially if it's attempting to twist or distort the Word of God. Especially if it's based in man-made ideas on what worship is to be.
Many many people are being lead astray by nice warm fuzzy sounding sermons.
Jesus obviously taught the Apostle Paul to be ready for no one knows the day or the hour of His promised return. So Paul lived with that in mind. He taught Timothy, Titus, all the churches, to live with that in mind.
The schemes of the devil are heavily infiltrating a deception in the Church to quietly introduce worldly ideas in order to water-down the Word of God. To remove the urgency of the truth. To get Christians to get lazy and not remind anyone that Jesus IS going to return. Satan's absolutely not wanting the Church to be completed. He's absolutely not wanting the fullness of the Gentiles to come about.
We all think we want an easier go at life. We ask for the things we go through in life to be easier. Truth is that's not what the Bible says. We are to be growing in Christ. We all grow differently but we are to grow in Christ. Growing in Christ, learning from the Spirit of God, opens our hearts and minds to truth that storms are a must in growing stronger.
Are you among those teaching a doctrine different than what the Bible teaches? Would you even know if you were?
Jesus is returning and a life lived in Christ ought to reflect that. Because at any point we could be ushered into His presence. Either by way of death or the Rapture of the Church.
Do you live an expectant life in Christ? Are you so wrapped around the axle with your world that Jesus has little to no real impact in it? Are you constantly obsessed with other things than whether or not you are living in obedience to God's Word? Have you taken your love for Jesus and placed it on things, people or organizations?
Jesus Christ Himself said to be ready. Are you living in full disobedience by not heeding His own words?
We do have a life to live but this life is to have Godly priorities.
When that day arrives for Jesus to come back...billions of people who only thought they were saved will still be here because they believed twisted lies about salvation instead of what the Bible says it is.
Many many people who will leave on that day will likely be ashamed because they never really believed it was coming.
A life that isn't lived the way it is supposed to be in Christ...may very well give every appearance of being a fantastic model life.
Same goes for the other extreme.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
We owe Jesus our very best living of life for Him. We shouldn't be silent about what's to come. We should be excited, expectant, of His return. We shouldn't be practicing sinful lives. Should be earnestly learning what we can from God's Word ourselves. If I have a regret right now with regards to that last one, it's that I didn't start my heavy studies in God's Word way earlier in my life.
What are your views now on how you are looking at life today? Are you a bit more eager for Jesus to come back?
Consider well what you allow yourself to be taught at the place you call your church. As we started to read this morning, there's no place for legalism or useless rituals in the Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus doesn't care about how the outward appearance is of people. He didn't die for anyone's clothes.
He put it down in the Bible who is allowed to lead in a Church. Men of God are to be the preachers of the Word of God. The Word of God is very clear on who will never inherit the kingdom of God, that is, to enter into Heaven. Many so-called denominations and churches allow any kind of person to preach and teach who are not Biblically qualified to do so. There are no women preachers allowed. There are no homosexual preachers allowed. The list goes on. The Pharisees and Sadducees introduced hundreds of modifications to the Law. Millions of people were lead astray. In our world millions are lead astray.
The Word of God says that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The Word of God says that Jesus is Truth. His Truth never changes nor will it ever. It doesn't change to accommodate people it is to change people.
The Scriptures say that we are blessed if we are eagerly awaiting His return.
As it has been said so I live.
I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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