There are many celebrities, politicians, athletes and ministers who have huge audiences. They have great NAME RECOGNITION, people know them nearly everywhere they go, listen to what they have to say and even imitate their behavior. They have huge influence with their fans or followers. It’s disappointing to see what some people do with their voice and influence. Some are blessed with a social stage or public platform only to squander their voice and influence on foolishness or themselves.
We may not all be celebrities, but God has given all of us an audience and a voice. In your home, job, school, church, the park, the shopping center, in traffic, the restaurant people are watching you and listening to you. What are you doing with your audience? Many times we claim we want God to ‘enlarge our territory’ just as Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10. We ask Him togive us more resources and influence, but are we being responsible with that we already have? Are we being responsible with those in our circle of influence, no matter how small?
How do you handle disappointment on the job?…in front of your children?
How do you act when you get bad service in the restaurant?…or in a store?
How do you behave when frustrated in traffic?…(That one hit me!)
Do you speak up for the right things when it’s not popular to do so or remain silent?
How do you represent yourself on social media?
How do you dress?
God tells us in 1 Peter 2:12 …
“Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Colossians 4:5 says… “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
And of course In Matthew Jesus says…
Matthew 5:14-16… “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. God expects us to be His Light in the world.
Too many people want God to move them to bigger and better when they aren’t even thriving where they’re planted.
Are you thriving where you’re planted?
What are you doing with your voice and influence?
How are you perceived in your circles?
Whether you have an audience of one or one million, God expects you to honor Him and be light. Men, Women and Children of God…let’s be responsible with our audience.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”
BULL!!!
We all know words hurt. Verbal insults can inflict wounds that leave behind scars that last a lifetime.
As disciples of Christ we should develop a ‘tough skin’ to minimize the pain of when people insult us, however there’s one thing we should all remember about insults.
They hurt even more when they are injected with some painful truth about us…
“I can’t stand your selfish _______!”
“You wouldn’t be so broke if you weren’t so lazy!”
“People don’t like being around you because you’re so mean!”
“You know you’re much too heavy to wear that!”
It really doesn’t matter if the insult is said to hurt you, sometimes God will use an insult to help us examine ourselves so we can change. Especially if we have people around us who always say what we want to hear.
The disciples knew that the Pharisees and religious leaders were insulted at the rebukes of Yeshua, but they were filled with truth…
Matthew 15:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
When someone is accused of libel or slander, if what they said is true, then they are considered to be innocent.
Yes, insults are painful, but most of the time it’s the truth in some insults that make them more painful. Being honest with ourselves, even though it hurts, can help us make the necessary adjustments to achieve personal and spiritual growth.
Anyone who reads my writing knows I love to clarify anything that can be misunderstood or twisted. Anyone who has read my writing or watched any of our #SONdayBlessing videos knows I love, cherish, respect and honor my wife. I consider us to be equals in our marriage and I am fully aware of God telling us in 1 Peter that we are to honor our wives, and not doing so can hinder our prayers…
1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
I am fully aware and happily accept the husband’s responsibility to love our wives as Christ loves the church. This is the sacrificial love that’s is defined in Ephesians…
Ephesians 5:25-29 (NKJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
That being said, now let us consider what the word of God says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11…
1 Corinthians 11:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
I feel that each husband should treat his wife as if she is his QUEEN, and vice versa. However, anyone who believes the bible is the word of God knows what God said before He created woman…
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
God created man to be the head. But, as my father-in-law Pastor Lonnie Black has said for years…
“God created man to be the head and not the headache.” Pastor Lonnie Black
We live in a society today that more and more behaves as if man was created for woman than woman for man…that the husband is to submit to his wife, rather than woman submit to her husband. It’s God’s will that they honor one another.
In contemporary America today the husband is expected to ‘answer to his wife’…to go out of his way to make her happy…to work himself to the bone in order to get her whatever she wants…to submit to her when there is a disagreement…that if a woman allows her husband to ‘tell her what to do’ she is being weak. And, that if a husband isn’t giving his wife everything she desires, he is less than a husband.
Television, film, music and especially reality shows and social media support this (Think of all the “HOUSEWIVES” shows…there’s one to target various cultures). It’s art imitating life and art further shaping behavior and the narrative of male/female relationships.
In a sense, we have made our QUEENS…KINGS.
Marriage is not 50/50, it’s 100/100. It’s woman submitting to her husband’s authority in the home and enjoying his covering and protection. But, at the same time, marriage is the husband not abusing his authority, and considering his wife as an equal in all decisions. However, when decisions are made in the home, God will hold the husband (head) accountable…especially in regard to worship being established.
If you haven’t already, step back and take a look at what’s on television, movies and social media. Listen to much of the popular music these days. Listen to many of the conversations. Many people have gone beyond treating wives like QUEENS, to making them KINGS.
Husbands and wives…let’s be good to one another. Let’s love, trust, honor and support one another, but let’s not forget God’s order.
37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’[a] For the things concerning Me have an end.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
And He said to them, “It is enough.”
As Jesus faced betrayal He stood in the company of His disciples…His armed disciples. But, not all of them were armed. As the scripture states, there were two swords. He didn’t say get rid of the them, but He also let them know two swords were enough.
Jesus didn’t say, “We need more swords”, and when Peter used one of them to cut off the ear of one of the soldiers confronting them, not only did Jesus rebuke Peter, He also made a Holy and profound statement that also holds true for guns and all weapons (since of course they had no guns then)…
Matthew 26:47-52 (NKJV)
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “PUT YOUR SWORD IN IT’S PLACE, FOR ALL WHO TAKE THE SWORD WILL PERISH BY THE SWORD”.
Notice verse 52…all who take the sword will perish by it! Jesus warned of the consequence of putting too much faith and confidence in weapons. But, that’s not the only place the bible issues that warning. There’s no conjecture in saying that Jesus was exercising ‘sword control’.
Psalm 44:6 (NKJV)
6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me.
Psalm 33:16-18 (NKJV)
16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
However, Jesus also uses the illustration of a man defending His home in a parable…
Luke 11:21-22 (NKJV)
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
So here’s the thing. Our Lord permits and expects us to defend ourselves, but He is very clear in the fact that we should never, ever, ever put OUR faith in our weapons.
People love saying that “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Well, God addressed that too. He is the creator who created the person who makes the weapons as well as the heart that uses the weapons to kill, so what did He say about that?
Isaiah 54:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an instrument for his work;
And I have created the spoiler to destroy. 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
I don’t care how big or powerful the weapon, God owns the fight based on what is in the heart of those involved. Who is your ultimate trust in…your God or your weapon.
Okay, for those who claim to be believers and live by the bible, go to 1 Samuel Chapter 17 and read how David, a young shepherd boy kills a trained, well-armed military giant named Goliath with a sling shot.
If you need more biblical evidence, go to 2 Chronicles Chapter 20 and read how Judah didn’t even have to fight even when they were out-numbered and ‘out-gunned’.
2 Chronicles 20:15-23 (NKJV)
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”[a]
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
So, even though the bible permits weapons, it is clear that God expects our ultimate trust to be in Him.
Either you believe Him or you don’t.
Either you trust Him or you don’t.
Either you believe His word or you don’t.
Again, Jesus told His disciples two swords were enough. He permit them to have them, but it was clear that He exercised ‘sword control’ as well.
The truth is both sides of the gun control argument have merit. The issues are not mutually exclusive. One side says, yes civilians should own weapons, but there should be limits to the type. The other side says, guns don’t kill people, so civilians should be able to purchase what they want with few to no limits.
Based on what the bible says, moving your passions and feelings out of the way, and fully putting your faith in God…where do you think Jesus stands?
So many people today equate humility to weakness. Our society values arrogance, self-indulgence, retribution, revenge, retaliation, aggression, threats and what is perceived as loud, strong words…all of this is the fruit of pride. And, we know what pride does to our relationship with God…
James 4:6 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Even in our movies, people celebrate when the so-called ‘nerd’ finally stands up to the bully and ‘knocks him out’ to the applause of everyone watching.
That’s not what happened on the cross.
Yeshua, Christ Jesus, humbled Himself to open and public humiliation for our sins…
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Isaiah 53:3-12 (NKJV)
3 He is despised and [a]rejected by men,
A Man of [b]sorrows and acquainted with [c]grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our [d]griefs
And carried our [e]sorrows;
Yet we [f]esteemed Him stricken, [g]Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded[h] for our transgressions, He was[i]bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes[j] we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord [k]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from [l]prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And [m]they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to [n]bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 [o]He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the [p]spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
God demands humility from His children. Humility is a sign of having faith in Him and the rejection of pride.
God loves us enough sometimes to humble us when we refuse to humble ourselves…but it can be very painful and humiliating.
When God humbles us, He isn’t trying to hurt us, but He is trying to help us to develop our character and walk in His Spirit. It’s a form of discipline, similar to when…
A parent has to punish a child in front of other children,
When a teacher or coach has to reprimand a student in front of others,
Or even when we’ve passed several cars speeding only to have them catch up to us while we are pulled over by an officer.
So NEVER, and I mean NEVER ask God to humble you. Just as we are encouraged in the book of James, humble yourselves so God does not have to do it for you. Don’t worry, it comes with a beautiful promise.
James 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
I can only speak for myself, but I think we’ve all experienced it. We have prayed to God…we have made a specific supplication…we have interceded for someone else. Then, sometimes immediately, sometimes shortly after and sometimes much later we see God answer that prayer…that supplication…that intercession, just as we asked.
Sometimes it’s exactly as we asked. While others it may not be exactly as we asked but, we can still clearly see it was an answer to our prayer.
Then it happens. That emotion that reveals our true level of faith. I’m not saying an absence of faith, but the true level of our faith. Our emotional response to God answering our prayer.
SURPRISE
Have you ever been surprised when God answers your prayer? Surprised when we already know what He promised…
John 14:13-14 (NKJV)
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[a] anything in My name, I will do it.
Do we really believe Jesus’ promise when we pray? Now, I do know that sometimes God says “No”. For more on this read WHEN GOD USES THE ‘N-WORD’…
I do know that sometimes God answers in a manner that we totally don’t expect and I realize that even though we know that God CAN do it, we don’t know if He WILL do it.
But even at that, we should never be surprised. Be surprised if you hit the lottery. Be surprised if the team that’s the underdog wins…even be surprised if you get exactly what you want for your birthday, but we should never be surprised when God has already promised us what He will do.
Even if we know He can do it, but wonder if He will, what emotion should we feel when God answers our prayer?
AMAZEMENT
God wants you to be amazed. He wants to ‘blow your mind’. He wants to make you say, “Wow!” He wants to astound you and leave you in awe…because this is how God ‘helps our unbelief’.
Mark 9:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Surprise implies that we didn’t believe. Amazement implies that we do believe.
When God answers your prayers, be AMAZED, but never SURPRISED.
11 For the grace(A) of God has appeared(B) that offers salvation to all people.(C)12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(D)and to live self-controlled,(E) upright and godly lives(F) in this present age,
“I’m only human!”
“I’m just a man!”
“I have needs!”
“God made me this way!”
These are some phrases we can find ourselves using to comfort ourselves or to explain to someone else when we have given in to sins of the flesh…especially sexual sin…
Fornication…
Adultery…
Homosexuality…
Pornography…
The bible reminds us that the ‘flesh’ wars against the ‘spirit’ and ‘spirit against the ‘flesh’. It’s a battle, therefore God knows that it’s not easy…
Galatians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
God designed our bodies (flesh) to have sexual desire to be enjoyed within the boundaries of Godly marriage between a man and woman.
These desires are produced and regulated by our glands and our brain.
Testicles…
Ovaries…
When we allow how we react to the hormones these glands release into our bodies to control us, we are allowing our glands to become our god.
“I just can’t help myself!”
“I just can’t say no!”
“I just can’t stay away!”
There are some people who spend most of their time and energy thinking about sex. Even within a marriage, being obsessed with sex can be unhealthy and destructive.
The fact is that much of our society is obsessed with sex. It’s in television, social media, movies, music, art, literature…SEX SALES!
So, whether married or unmarried, we must control our sexual desires and not let them rule us. Because when something rules you, it becomes a priority, and it’s easy for what we prioritize to become our idols….our gods.
That’s why the apostle Paul asserts that he brought his flesh under subjection…
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Remember, lack of discipline over his flesh is what allowed Esau to give up his birthright and blessing. He surrendered it to his brother for a single meal (Genesis 25:29-34).
That’s why the exercise of fasting is so important. It’s bringing our bodies under subjection so that what our bodies ‘want’ and our cravings won’t rule us…we rule them.
Sometimes telling God YES is telling our bodies NO!
When it comes to the battle of HOLY vs. HORNY, the struggle is real.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
16 I say then: (A)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For (B)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, (C)so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Don’t let your glands become your God!
Titus 3:3-8 (MSG)
3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
This is word of admonition to those who call themselves to be believers.
The image of modern-day Christianity has been perverted by people who where pride as a necklace and their arrogance masquerades itself as confidence. Many of these people mean well, but they have been seduced by their passion against some obvious sins (namely abortion and homosexuality)…
1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NLT)
24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.
…to excuse, justify and even indulge in the sins that aren’t as obvious or politicized such as pride, arrogance. They don’t share their faith in love. They are accused of hating those whose lifestyles they reject, while they themselves accuse others of hating the proud and arrogant personalities they support.
God used proud and arrogant nations ( namely Assyria and Babylon) to punish His people because of their idolatry, hypocrisy, assimilation, refusal of justice, violence and their arrogant leaders.
However, after using these clearly ungodly nations and ungodly rulers to punish His people, He later harshly punished Assyria and Babylon. Go back and read Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel through this context.
The problem with many people in America who call themselves Christians is that they never see America as Assyria or Babylon…only as either persecuted or victorious Israel.
God has made a promise to those who have succumbed to pride and arrogance…
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NASB)
31 “Behold, I am against you, [a]arrogant one,” Declares the Lord [b]God of armies, “For your day has come, The time [c]when I will punish you. 32 The [d]arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will set fire to his cities, And it will devour all his surroundings.”
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NKJV)
31 “Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!” says the Lord God of hosts; “For your day has come, [a]The time that I will punish you. 32 The most proud shall stumble and fall, And no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, And it will devour all around him.”
You can’t fight against one sin by accepting and engaging in another.
Remember, pride is the first mentioned among the seven deadly sins because it is the parent sin to countless offspring sins.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him: 17 A[b] proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before [a]a fall.
James 4:6 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Many of those who call themselves evangelicals do not represent the true image of Christ any more than the Scribes and Pharisees them. The fact is that Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ warned to beware of their hypocrisy and teaching…
Luke 12:1 (NKJV)
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Remember that the LORD’S scathing rebukes WERE NOT FOR THE ‘SINNERS’ but those who called themselves to be religious leaders!
Think about Jesus’ response when the woman was caught in adultery. Think about how He dined with ‘sinners’. Then think about His responses to those who called themselves to be ‘religious’…
Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [b]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [c]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who [e]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [f]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.33 Serpents, brood[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
We have all done it before. We asked God to forgive us, and promised Him that we wouldn’t do it again…then found ourselves right back in the same behavior again, and sometimes again and again.
Has this ever been you? Sure, we all have.
I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Whether you slipped up or carefully planned your presumptuous (premeditated sin in the 1st degree), you did NOT surprise God when you messed up.
Psalm 19:13 (NKJV)
13 Keep back Your servant also from PRESUMPTUOUS sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of [a]great transgression.
Think about this, David was ordained King and a man after God’s own heart, God already knew that we was going to see Bathsheba bathing, lust after her, abuse his authority and have her brought to him, have sex with her, get her pregnant and then carefully plan to have her husband Uriah (who was very loyal to him) killed to conceal the sin. David did not take God by surprise.
God already knew Noah was going to get drunk after he delivered him and his family in the flood (Genesis Chapter 9).
God already knew that Abraham was going to sleep with Hagar when it was taking too long for Isaac to be born (Genesis Chapter 16).
God already knew that Jacob was going to lie to steal Esau’s blessing (Genesis Chapter 27).
Yeshua already knew when He called Peter that he would deny Him three times (John Chapter 18).
And, God already knew when you accepted His Son as Lord and Savior that you would ____________________________. ( You fill in the blank. You know what you did or are doing).
Their sin didn’t disqualify them and yours doesn’t disqualify you.
Think about this. It wasn’t David’s sexual sin that disqualified him from building a house for God, as he longed to do. It was his violence (2 Samuel Chapter 7).
Notice that David’s sin did not disqualify him from being King, He did not have to surrender his ‘thrown’.
David’s sin did not mean the Psalms that God gave us through Him could no longer be sung, read or prayed.
David’s sin did not disqualify Him from being a man after God’s own heart.
Why? Because David repented (2 Samuel Chapter 12 and Psalm 51), unlike King Saul, who he succeeded. Saul never repented and He was rejected by God and lost the throne to David (1 Samuel Chapters 15-16).
The key is repentance. Yes, you may slip up. You may even stay in that sin for a season. But, the fact that you weren’t comfortable in that sin is proof that God’s Holy Spirit was convicting you. The fact that you aren’t comfortable in that sin, if you’re in it right now, is proof that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) won’t allow you to have any peace right now. It proves that you are His.
You didn’t catch God by surprise. If you’re practicing a sin right now that you know hurts God…stop right now, before God stops you. If you have repented…be strong and don’t go back.
Be encouraged. God already knew everything you would do when He chose you!
Your sin didn’t or doesn’t disqualify you, as long as you truly repent…now.
So many times we read our bibles or hear a sermon and frown upon the way the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Jews, Romans…all those who antagonized Jesus behaved.
Jesus came with a message that was different from what they were used to hearing, but was clearly supported by scripture. They witnessed Him working miracles and proving who He was, and they rejected Him.
We read about how at the beginning of the week they shouted HOSANNA , but at the end of the week they yelled CRUCIFY Him! We think to ourselves, or proclaim that if we were living back then that we would have bee on Jesus’ side….
But, your attitude now implies how you would have behaved then.
How you react to the word of truth now implies how you would have reacted then.
I’m not talking about the false prosperity ‘preachers’ who come on at 2am promising riches without preaching a word about salvation.
But, I’m talking about when a real word comes forth that may challenge your personal theology. That’s what Jesus did. That’s what the apostles did.
They confronted and corrected Jesus IN HIS HOUSE…many people would do the same thing today.
They were concerned with the outward appearance but not the heart…many people are today.
They worshipped Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him…many people do that today.
They established their own righteous and a form of godliness, but not according to knowledge…many people do that today.
They twisted the word to fit their purpose…many people do today.
Some were apathetic and just didn’t care…many are today.
Remember it was the religious leaders were threatened by and killed Jesus. Let us examine ourselves and our attitudes about God. Would you have been like those disciples in John 6 who said…
John 6:60 (NKJV)
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
...and then left Him.
Would you have been one of those shouting “CRUCIFY HIM!” when they discovered He didn’t fulfill their expectations?
Your attitude today…How you respond today not only implies how you would have responded then, but which side you would have chosen. Beware the leaven ( teaching, mindset) of the Pharisees!!!(Matthew 16:6)
Relationships make our lives richer….better. God created us because He wanted relationship with us.
As our relationships evolve, whether it be marriage, parent/child, siblings or friends…we are also all evolving as individuals.
For example, If you’ve been married any number of years, then neither of you are the same people you were when you first married.
The truth is some things get better, and some things don’t.
There will always be some things, attitudes, behaviors, moods, etc., that you hate about those who you love most….it doesn’t mean you hate them.
In fact, daily living and loving beyond those things is what makes it love.
Think about God…do you think He is always pleased with you?
Are there ways He is still expecting you to change?
Even at our best, we don’t measure up go God’s level of righteousness…
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)
But we are all like an unclean thing,And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
It’s only through God’s abundant grace and mercy that we are able to be in His Holy presence.
That’s why His gift of justification is so valuable, and should never be taken for granted. Even though we are unrighteous…through the blood of our Lord Jesus, we are ‘counted as righteous’.
Romans 3:23-25 (NKJV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
Just as we don’t measure up to God’s standard…We disappoint each other because at times don’t measure up to one another’s expectations…whether reasonable or unreasonable.
Just as we continue to disappoint God in our individual relationships with Him, we will continue to disappoint one another in our relationships with each other.
As years go by, even though we grow to know one another better, there will still be things about each other that ‘drive us up the wall’…things that ‘drive us crazy’.
Think about some things that you hate about those people who are closest to you.
Does it mean that your relationship is flawed?
Well, yes it does…but so is your relationship with God.
But, just as God loves us through our flaws, He expects us to love one another through ours as well.
So, the next time your notice your husband…wife…parent…sister…brother…friend doing something you don’t like…or even hate, after all these years remember…
Theirs something they can’t stand about you, and…
It makes your relationship normal…not over.
Love each other through it, just as God loves you.
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Have you ever noticed in Matthew Chapter 23 that the religious leaders told Yeshua, Jesus, that if they had lived in the past they would not have mistreated and killed the prophets as their ancestors did?
Many people do the same thing today. They point a self-righteous finger at the Scribes, Pharisees, Chief Priests, those who shouted CRUCIFY HIM, those who worshipped the golden calf, those who bowed to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol God, and so on. People prove on which side of history they would have stood in the past by their attitudes, actions, and behavior today.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, sharply rebuked the religious leaders (the system) because they claimed if they had lived in the past, they would not have participated in killing the prophets as their ancestors did. He told them that they SHARED IN THE GUILT OF THEIR ANCESTORS because of their attitudes and actions TODAY…
Matthew 23:29-32 (NKJV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and[a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
Matthew 23:29-32 (NIV)
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
People today claim they would have gone into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew slave boys, or lions’ den with Daniel, but prove they wouldn’t because they won’t take a stand for God at work, or conform to a sinful culture because they don’t want to lose their job.
People today claim they would have fled Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot, but prove they wouldn’t have because they support gay marriage and the gay lifestyle, when Yeshua clearly affirms that marriage is between a man and woman in Matthew Chapter 19 verses 3-9.
People today claim they wouldn’t have participated in worshipping a graven image or calling out the name of an idol, but they prove they would have by blasphemously calling a day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior by the name of a pagan goddess (Easter, Eostre, Ishtar, Ashtoreth).
Exodus 23:13 (NKJV)
13 “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.
People today prove where they would have stood during the American Civil Rights Movement…
People today prove if they would have considered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be a great man or a trouble maker…
People today prove if they would consider the peaceful protests to be a means to change or a nuisance…
People today prove whether they would have supported a system of slavery or against it by how they hold on to the symbols and paradigms of a sinful heritage of oppression, rape and separation of families because they feel it honors their ancestors.
People today prove whether they would have placed ‘traditions of man’ over the word of God (flags, statues, monunents, hazing, etc…
Matthew 15:1-8 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying,‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother,“Whatever profit you might have received from me isa gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
How you respond to the teachings of Yeshua the Messiah today proves how you would have stood back then…
People today prove whether they would have shouted HOSANNA or CRUCIFY Him!
So many people today equate humility to weakness. Our society values arrogance, self-indulgence, retribution, revenge, retaliation, aggression, threats and what is perceived as loud, strong words…all of this is the fruit of pride. And, we know what pride does to our relationship with God…
BE BLESSTIFIED! 