Rabbi, Rabbi - The Thinking of Today's Pharisee
Man's perception of truth is clouded by his own opinions, which are formed by satanic influences, religious traditions, humanistic reasonings, secular media, and worldly philosophies. These opinions are the foundation of every decision that he makes! It is upon this foundation that his life is structured and built, and these will determine his lifestyle, rewards, and eternal destiny. Jesus tells us the foolishness of such thinking in Matthew 7:26, "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine (Word of God), and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand (worldly philosophy, religion, "Christian" psychology, etc.): And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it ("...whose end is destruction..." Philippians 3:19)."
Before man acts, he generally must first believe that his actions are correct, justified, permissible, or free of consequence! Hearing the words of Christ and doing them shows that God's Word is the foundation upon which his faith is being put into action!! Our thoughts are temporal and fleshly, while God's thoughts are eternal and spiritual (Isaiah 55:8). Unfortunately, most "spiritual" decisions are being based upon satanic, fleshly, worldly, and humanistic foundations that have no foundation in the Word of God! These satanic influences, religious traditions, humanistic reasonings, and worldly philosophies have become so much a part of the "accepted" norm in "Christianity" that they "make sense" in the flesh; but are contrary to the Spirit, for "...they that are in the flesh cannot please God." These "accepted teachings" are referred to by Paul as "Doctrines of Devils."
Paul devoted much of his writings to battle such thinking that causes man to "serve God" in the flesh, in pretense, outward show, pride, arrogance, tradition, or competition. This "incorporating" the world to build the "church" goes against the Spirit and is fleshly, as is very evident by the carnal nature at the core of most "churches." This wisdom will be destroyed, as Paul explains in I Corinthians 1:17-19, "For Christ sent me...to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words... For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Paul explains further in I Corinthians 2:4-5, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." This foundation was to be faith only, not mixing "belief" with the thinking of this world, which will soon perish!!
We have seen the prophesies of the apostasy (or "falling away" of II Thessalonians 2:3 or the departure from the faith of I Timothy 4:1-2, "...giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron (no Holy Ghost conviction)...." This has taken place, as we have already been warned by our Lord in the gospels and then reiterated in the epistles as warnings and admonitions to the growing "churches" (saved brethren, not buildings!).
Paul calls these influences "doctrines of devils" and they are taught by "seducing spirits," who lie (preach peace without repentance), are hypocrites (use "religious" terminology but live like the devil), and have no conviction about their sins (conscience seared with a hot iron). He also describes these as "enemies of the cross of Christ" as is explained in Philippians 3:18-19, "(For many (majority) walk, of whom I have told (warned) you often, and now tell you even weeping (pleading, begging, with a broken heart), that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (here are the signs to watch out for:) Whose end is destruction (divorce, worldly wasted lives, consumed in the immediate), whose God is their belly (their own fleshly desires and cravings), and whose glory (they brag about or glory in their sin) is in their shame, who mind earthly things (they love the world and the things in the world - I John 2:15)."
Jesus taught us of this also in Matthew 7:15-20, "Beware of false prophets (teachers, Pharisees), which come to you in sheep's clothing (appearing to preach the truth), but inwardly they are ravening wolves (greedily devouring). Ye shall know them by their fruits (actions)... Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit (righteousness); but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit (wickedness, worldliness, carnality). A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit...Wherefore by their fruits (lifestyle, purpose, and actions) ye shall know them." Paul warned of these in Acts 20:29-30, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
Thus, Jesus warned us of false teachers who would appear to be teaching the truth on the outside, but their inside is full of wickedness and sin. They are one of the tools of satan in I Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Paul spoke of satan's servants in II Corinthians 11:13, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." These "ministers of righteousness" use Biblical words, phrases, terms, and expressions. They appear to be angels of light as does satan, yet they are ministers of wickedness and sin. We can tell them by their fruits, as Jesus told us in Matthew 7:16 & 20.
Jesus exposed some of these doctrines of devils, as He exposed them in the lives of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-12. Although His condemnation goes past these verses, there is enough meat and teaching in these verses to expose the doctrines of devils evident in the lives of today's Pharisees.
"Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." - Matthew 23:1-3
Jesus singles out these religious leaders as hypocrites, as He states, "...for they say, and do not." They gave a pretense of being holy and in the "service of God."
A great definition for the word hypocrite is found in Webster's 1828 dictionary:
HYP'OCRITE, n.
One who feigns to be what he is not; one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, when he is destitute of true religion.
The Bible exposes and condemns the actions of hypocrites in both the Old and New Testament starting in Job 8:13, which tells us, "So are the paths of all that forget God (cut down, withering); and the hypocrite's hope shall perish." Although the hypocrite has fooled others into believing that he is something more than he truly is, he will not be able to fool God as is explained in Job 13:16, "He (God) also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him (God)." There are no blessings or rewards for the hypocrite, as Job 20:5 teaches us, "That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment." Nothing done in pretense or hypocrisy will be blessed by the Lord, even if they appear to be "right," as Job 27:8 teaches us, "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?" The answer of course is, "No," since God heareth not sinners, as John 9:31 and Psalms 66:18 teach us.
Pulpits are full of hypocrites who preach righteousness and practice wickedness. They say that they hate violence (Psalms 11:5) yet watch it on the television. They preach against immorality, fornication, and homosexuality yet allow immodest dressing, nakedness, and touching (I Corinthians 7:1) before marriage to destroy their young people. They say they love Christ, but they do not keep His commandments - John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
The destruction of the next generation is brought on by the hypocrisy of the leaders as is explained in Isaiah 9:16, "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly." They are the leaders, who say with their mouth but do not practice, that damn the souls of those looking to them for an example. Today's Pharisees preach modesty, yet their wives and daughters expose their chests and dress in worldly, flashy, skin-tight dresses. They preach against liquor, yet support it by patronizing restaurants that serve it. They preach church attendance and the Lord's day, yet go to stores, restaurants, and "water slides" after church (encouraging others to work). They preach against Hollywood, yet rent or purchase movies to view in their own homes (paying the salaries of the wicked actors and producers and filling their minds with worldly trash). They say they live by faith as they go into debt with loans, credit cards, and lines of credit, which disobey Romans 13:8 "Owe no man any thing...." They proclaim Christ as the head of the church, yet have set up the church as a business. They say they are doing the work of Christ, and they charge for everything. (Yet Christ's work was all done freely!!) They preach against drunkenness, yet they are gluttons. They proclaim KJV only; yet preach using quotes of men, philosophy of the world, and the opinion of the temporal!! They "stand upon" the Bible as long as it builds a "big church," gets them in a newspaper, or makes them popular!!
As they judge others for their sins, they themselves are hypocrites in doing the same things, as Jesus condemned those who judge in Matthew 7:3, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye (a small particle), but considerest not the beam (the largest piece in a building) that is in thine own eye?... Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." First, get your children under control, as I Timothy 3:4 teaches, "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)." First, get rid of your "filth box." First, learn how to control your appetite and how to be content with food and clothing (I Timothy 6:6-8). First, you must stay out of the malls and worldly entertainment centers, and then you will be able to help others with the power of the Holy Spirit of God!! How can someone preach separation, holiness, and godliness who sits in front of a television hearing wrong philosophy, watching nudity, learning covetousness, and loving violence as satan programs him.
How can they preach against the very same things they are doing?? Yet, they do it! They preach "Christian education," then send their children to secular colleges (Jeremiah 10:2). They say that they hate the ERA, yet have women working secular jobs (Titus 2:4-5), women teaching men in "colleges" (I Timothy 2:12) and being Sunday school superintendents over men (I Corinthians 14:34), all of which are contrary to the truth of the gospel!! They preach faith, but trust in money, building campaigns, and "fake promises"; then water their sermons, so they do not offend, trusting in their unscriptural "salaries." They say that they are Bible believing, yet they are not practicing what the Scriptures have taught. They have patterned their churches after the institutions of the world, instead of the instructions of His Word! Their "Christian" schools (which are patterned after the public schools), "Bible colleges" that stick to the ungodly standards of the 1950s, as if this is godliness (find this in the New Testament or find the New Testament taught in one of these), and "advertising campaigns" are all patterned after the fleshly "alluring" giveaways of a shopping mall or pyramid club!! They give the appearance of "suffering" in the "ministry" yet live like kings and charge for everything!! They promote "Bible knowledge" yet they themselves know more about sports, movies, and television than how to live a holy and godly life! They call themselves "servants" of God but exalt themselves as lords and dictators!! They require loyalty and allegiance to an organization or preacher instead of to Christ!! This is hypocrisy at its wickedest state, for people are following them by what comes out of their mouths instead of what they practice!! Jeremiah 5:31 lets us know why this is going on, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means (in the flesh); and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
A very good passage that also talks of this is found in Luke 6:42-45 (let this verse sink in deep) where Jesus is speaking, "...Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (A hypocrite will soon show his true colors as his fruit will be carnal, fleshly, and worldly.) For every tree is known by his own fruit. ...A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Look closely at what they do, not what they say. How do they build their "churches"?? Is it big days, giveaways, and flesh?? Look at their "youth groups" saturated by the world and the flesh; lured into the church by worldly entertainment, ungodly youth conferences, and "punk" worldly-talking "youth pastors" whom I wouldn't trust my daughters around for one second!
Jesus was very offended at their actions, as He asked in the next verse, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Talk is very cheap!! Multitudes are talking about the Bible, but very few practice its holy teachings. Many say they love the Lord, but few are showing the Lord their love by obeying Him. Jesus said this also in the next verse, "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house...on a rock...." This man was no hypocrite!! He built his house upon a Rock, which was Christ and His commands, which we find in I Peter 1: 15-16, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (every manner of lifestyle); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
They say that they love the Lord, but their actions and obedience deny the Lord and His Word! Jesus tells us this in Matthew 15:7, "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain (worthlessly) they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." This is expressed a little different in Mark 7:9b, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." It is a tradition to be popular, large, and accepted!! Anything that will bring this about is permitted according to the hypocrite, even compromise with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Instead of measuring every action on a scale of right or wrong or what it might lead to, they measure their actions based upon popularity or rejection, "love" or persecution, abundance or need, comfort or sacrifice; and take the better of the two so as to be looked upon by man as morally good, loving, fun, entertaining, and "compassionate." They care more about what people think than what God thinks!
The worst part of hypocrisy is the rebellion in the heart of those who are pretenders!! They pretend that they care about their people but refuse to tell them the truth of how to please God! They preach grace and truth, but use the doctrine of grace as an excuse for their sins and the sins of those whom they do not want to offend, as Jude 1:4 teaches us, "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Read this again, "...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (filthy wantonness)..." They are turning God's grace into lasciviousness by continuing in sin and pretending that it is okay with God. Paul spoke of this in Romans 6:1, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin (if indeed they are dead to sin), live any longer therein?"
They even begin to fool themselves as they "work the ministry," yet Titus 1:16 exposes the truth, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." This explains what Jude 1:4 had just quoted, "...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus told us that we would be able to tell the false prophets in Matthew 7:16 & 20, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" I cannot believe how many Christians say ungodly philosophy like, "Dr. Fluffyhead is arrogant, worldly, and off on a few things, but I like his teaching on this particular subject." Jesus is telling us that if Dr. Fluffyhead is a hypocrite, we will know by his fruit, for good fruit cannot come from a bad source!!! If he does not have the power of the Holy Spirit of God, which should be evident in his life of obedience, preaching, and living, then he really has nothing to say, for "...they that are in the flesh cannot please God!!" Look at how his sons turn out! His son is a direct reflection of what is really within the preacher!
Many are "laboring in vain" because they are doing "God's work" without the Lord (in the flesh). They are convincing people to "conform and reform" instead of preaching the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to use the Word of God to convict and cause repentance!! Paul said this exactly in Philippians 2:16, "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." He was holding forth the "Word of life" knowing that he in himself could not do anything to bring true repentance, yet hypocrites will study wickedness in order to prove that it is wicked! They will use nice quotes and famous sayings and philosophy, leadership training, and positive thinking to convince one to conform to their "godliness"; yet none of these things has ever brought true repentance. Repentance is a direct result of the preaching of the Word of God, as Paul told us in I Corinthians 1:21, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." The preaching that Paul is speaking of is the preaching against the practicing of sin! The exposing of wrong motives, compromise, worldliness, filthy thinking, loving of the world, and pseudo-Christianity is what these hypocrites cannot preach against!
As the time gets shorter and the Lord's Second Coming gets closer, we will see that the preaching of the truth will get scarcer, and the ear-tickling doctrines of devils will be accepted by all who are "wolves in sheep's clothing." Those who obey the truth will look like "peculiar people"; of course, this is what God even calls them in Titus 2:14, "Who (Jesus) gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The last days of the last days are upon us, and we see that the prophecy in II Timothy 4:3-4 is coming true, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (the truth); but after their own lusts shall they (the listeners) heap (just take a look at the average "satanic" family bookstore) to themselves teachers, having itching ears (the listeners have ears that are itching to hear smooth things); And they shall turn away their ears from the truth (of holy living, humility, separation, purity, chastity, and sanctification), and shall be turned unto fables ("saved to sin" philosophy; falsehood; make belief; wrong doctrine; television!).
These hypocrites are "deceiving and being deceived" as is explained in II Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." Satan has deceived them, and now they, as "ministers of righteousness," are deceiving others as Paul expressed to us in II Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such are false apostles (these hypocrites who preach a hypocritical life), deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." These are the crowd pleasers, the fleshly promotion experts, the "gain-is-godliness" Pharisees, the "no-persecution" Pharisees, the "belief-is-repentance" Pharisees, the "look-at-me" Pharisees, the "put-your-Bible-away-and-listen-to-me" Pharisees, and the "pattern-the-church-after-the-world" Pharisees. These have been transformed into ministers of righteousness by their father, the devil. Oh, yes, they sound "good," saying, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" These hypocrites are arrogant, prosperous fakers who have made the work of the Lord a business, a chance to promote themselves, a chance to be looked to!! Notice that they show their true colors by their actions! This is why Jesus warned so strongly about these hypocrites. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Judas Iscariot - they all were hypocrites with the same father, the devil!
Repent of your hypocrisy! Stop fooling yourself into thinking that you will not be judged on Judgment Day! You know that speeding is a sin, yet you practice it, laugh, and even brag about it! You know that watching violence, nudity, wrong philosophy, and anything that does not glorify God is a sin, yet you are such a hypocrite that you continue to excuse yourself!! Repent and cry to God for mercy! You know when you get to heaven that you'll wish you had done more. Why? Because you love the world and are caught up in its wicked pleasures!! Repent!
Yes, "Christians" are causing the name of God to be blasphemed by their hypocritical double-standard lifestyle, as Romans 2:21-24 teaches us, "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." Is it your desire to hurt the cause of Christ and help the enemy of God? God's work is hurt daily by professing Christians who practice hypocrisy! Remember, we will be rewarded on Judgment Day by what we have done, not what we talked about!!
"For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." - Matthew 23:4
Secondly, Jesus singles out these "religious" leaders for not being servants of God, as He says, "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." They have a "position," and they have now arrived! Yet, the Lord of Glory said in Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Jesus did not come to be ministered to, but to minister to others by guiding them in the truth! Since we are servants and ministers of the gospel, we must, in all humility and humbleness of mind, work for our master by serving others! In loving and serving our brethren and the lost, we are showing the true love of Christ in action!! I John 3:10 says, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." The greatest service that we can do others is the most preached-against approach, i.e. exposing people's sin as sin!
The root word of "ministry" is "minister, to attend and serve; to perform service." Notice it is not "to be ministered to," but "to serve others"! Ministering to others is the ministry of God!! Someone in the "ministry" of God in the capacity of a "pastor, elder, etc." is not above or better than anyone else!! He has a responsibility to God to preach the truth and to minister or help those whom God has given to grow by teaching them how to live their daily lives surrendered over to the Lord!! This responsibility is to God, as Jesus taught us in John 7:16, "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." We must preach the Word of God, for it is His ministry and His doctrine!! It is His work; therefore, everything that any Christian does, is done unto the Lord, as Colossians 3:23-24 teaches us, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." If this is done to build up the reputation of the "minister" or the organization that the minister "represents" (he should represent Christ and glorify Him), he is a hypocrite and pretender for our first and foremost duty is to turn people to repentance! This is not a popular task, since satan has so many "ministers of righteousness" justifying people's sins and preaching "head knowledge" salvation, "belief salvation," grace as a license to sin, and "saved-to-sin" theology!
Being "called" to preach has now become an occupation just as being a lawyer, doctor, politician, or some other professional career. In fact, all of these occupations dress the same, carry themselves in the same prideful manner, feel very comfortable in each others' presence, and charge a great deal of money!! Why is this? The preacher is not ministering the truth from the Word of God, but has become very comfortable in this world as a moral member of society in good standing! Nothing he says convicts anyone, because he has the verse backward, which tells us, "Preaching the truth in love"! He has put the stress on "in love" by teaching compromise! The stress in this verse is on "preaching the truth" and loving to preach hot and heavy against the thing that God hates!! Do you love someone if you do not warn him of Judgment Day, because he will reject you??
You have the world's definition of love (that squishy, devilish compromising, keep-your-mouth-shut, and justify-their-sins philosophy) that you are told will draw them to the church because of its "love" (satanic philosophy). You know this is wrong, for Scripture teaches us in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." People are not saved by "identifying" with you or by not knowing their spiritual state!!! People are saved when they meet a Holy God Who hates all sin, Who loves righteousness, punishes evil, condemns the wicked, chastens the sins of His people, and casts the wicked into hell!! This opens their eyes to the truth of Who God really is!! It teaches them that the Bible is true and not just a book to carry to church!! It teaches them that the commands and teachings of God's Word are to be lived and practiced with joy from the heart, with separation from the world, with a sincere heart that pants after God, with purity of mind and body, with obedience put into action (not just talked about)!! This is true repentance; and God is looking for a servant that will surrender his own ambitions, popularity, arrogance, and comforts to live a life of holiness and sacrifice for God!!
Peter taught us this in I Peter 5:2-3, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28, "...Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." He didn't come to get a cushy office, a salary, vacation days, a parsonage, and Mondays off. This does not sound like a comfortable position or good career choice! Ministering to others takes humility, true love, sacrifice, and devotion to our Savior. It goes against the flesh. Jesus' life is the perfect example of a servant! I ask you if you know of anyone that is truly a servant as Christ was; yet we are commanded to have a servant's heart as Christ.
This word minister is not a position that pays a salary and has fringe benefits. It is a lifestyle and love of Christ that starts within the heart of someone who truly desires to please the Savior and serve Him.
Here is the definition from the Webster's 1828 dictionary of a minister:
MIN'ISTER, n. [L.]
Properly, a chief servant; hence, an agent appointed to transact or manage business under the authority of another; in which sense, it is a word of very extensive application.
Since we are servants under the authority of God Almighty, we must do all our service for Him in humility and sincerity. Jesus led by example of how we should act as "ministers" to others. Read what Jesus said in John 13:15, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." This is also what John taught us in I John 2:6, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." As Jesus conducted His life on this earth, so we must follow in His footsteps, as I Peter 2:21 teaches us, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." Christ was the perfect example of a servant. This is a very important part of being an "elder" or minister, as Paul told Timothy in I Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word (what you talk about), in conversation (how you act or behave yourself), in charity (how you love or care about others), in spirit (having a good attitude), in faith (your firm reliance upon God), in purity (your personal life in holiness before God)." All of these were found in Jesus, as He was the perfect example as the "Good Shepherd" and "Bishop of our souls." Christ left us an example of how to live our life in word, actions, love, attitude, faith, and holiness just as Paul encouraged Timothy!!
One other thing, which we are encouraged to do, is to follow Jesus in suffering, as I Peter 2:21 tells us, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (not be afraid to suffer for righteousness)." In this He led by example not only choosing to suffer, but also rejoicing in it, as Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus "...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame...." Jesus led by example of never taking up an offering for Himself! He had no building fund, no retirement program, no IRA's, no pension plan, and no worldly comforts. Jesus led by example by never building a building, never having a spring/summer/winter/fall "program," and by never giving away gifts/bribes to "build" His "church."
Just as Jesus willingly offered Himself (John 10:18 says, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father"), so we must willingly serve Him giving our life, blood, finances, time, and future to Him. Jesus' attitude about giving His life is taught us in Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame...." He joyfully and willingly did what was best for you, even though you did not deserve it, and although most do not even appreciate it! Most say with their mouths that they are thankful that Christ died to wash away their sins, yet put Him to a mocking test by continuing to practice the very sins from which they were supposedly washed!! Jesus, the Servant of servants led us by example so that we could follow His steps!
Again, Jesus leads us by example by washing His disciples' feet, a practice that some brethren still practice, yet it was not the act of washing the feet that Jesus was trying to teach us as an "ordinance" or ceremony, but it was a mindset and way of life due to a completely changed heart that would cause one to serve and care for others, as John 13:5-17 records the entire story. Starting in verse 12, we read, "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you (been a servant). Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Yes, Lord, we truly are happy, if we humble ourselves and are Your servants!
Is this not what the Apostle Paul did in I Corinthians 9:19, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." Reading this verse in context, Paul is speaking about refusing to receive money from the churches, yet as a servant of the Lord, He explains what His reward is in verse 18, "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel." Oh, how many abuse the privilege of being a servant of God by making it an "occupation" instead of a service to God!! They receive "salaries" as if working for an employer, and the problem with this is the very root of their "churches," which are rooted as businesses formed by the State!! Yet, Christ is the head of the church!! Paul taught us in Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." Satan used Constantine to mix the two together, and people have been patterning the church after him ever since!
They became rulers and lords of the people instead of humble servants of the Lord, which is against the teaching in Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Jesus taught us how to be servants in Mark 10:42-44, "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister (your servant): And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." They call themselves servants of God yet, "...they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."
Seek to Please Men and Be Seen of Men
"But all their works they do for to be seen of men..." Matthew 23:5a
On Judgment Day, we will not stand before men! Every judgment made from the mouth of God will come based upon the teachings that He has given to us from the Word of God. Preaching the work of God to please man is futile and useless, since man's thinking is completely opposite of God's thinking, as He has taught us in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." You had better not depend upon what you think or what you have been taught, for you will stand before God, responsible for what the Word of God teaches, and you may be clueless! God's holiness is higher than you think it is, and His thinking is the holiest of all!! Your compromise and your "God-will-understand" thinking will not stand, as you bow your knee before such a holy and righteous Judge, for "...it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Yes, He is merciful and gracious now, as He does not bring upon your head the judgment that your sin requires; but on Judgment Day, there will be no excuses as your works are burned before Him, as I Corinthians 3:13-15 states, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire (God's judgment); and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
So many "Christians" know what is right, yet they justify their lack of action or ungodly lifestyle, deceiving themselves into thinking that God will overlook their sin! He sees their hypocrisy and knows their hearts as only religious to be seen of men. Their thoughts and their motives are only for themselves! Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:1-6, and we will look at this in detail, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them (there are some things that must be done in front of men, but Jesus is talking about the motive of the heart): otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven (He says later, "...they have their reward"). Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee (do not publish your good works in "Christian" newspapers, books, or sermons), as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (This is from the mouth of our Savior. Those who announce their greatness have the praise of men as their reward!). But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret (He knows that you do this because of your love for Him, for He sees your sincerity!) himself shall reward thee openly (on Judgment Day!). And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (I wonder if this includes passing out pictures of yourself praying!) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Again, on Judgment Day)."
Jesus knows men's hearts, and He warns of that temptation to do "religious" work for the wrong reasons! This may explain to you why the "greats" fall! They already have their reward when they please men!! They leave their "first love" and make themselves the object of admiration as both women and men look to them as "pillars" of Christianity instead of looking to Christ! The Lord Jesus will reward us, as we are admonished in Colossians 3:23-24, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
How many of today's Pharisees do their work for numbers and applause? How many learn to "tickle ears" and "scratch backs" instead of preach righteousness and holiness! When they are working to be seen of men, they have someone else's beliefs and doctrine, and not the doctrine of God. Paul warns of this in Galatians 1:10, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Jesus told us that the doctrine that He preached was not His own in John 7:16-18, "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." Read the recommendations of authors in the front of books and you will find a bunch of arrogant men pleasers "patting each other on the back," seeking to please men and get your money. If they were truly interested in teaching the truth, they would do it freely, yet look at the price on the back of the book! Jesus said here, "...He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory..." He who builds himself up and preaches his theory and has men follow him is untrue, for this is the opposite of what Jesus said, "...he that seeketh his glory that sent him (which is supposed to be God), the same is true!" Paul commands us in I Corinthians 3:18-21, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men." Doing the work of God in the wisdom of this world is foolishness and is not doing the work of God, but the works of the flesh!
Since Jesus' doctrine was not His own, but God the Father's, neither should our doctrine be our own opinions, philosophy, worldly leadership training, morality, and the accepted watered-down "mega-church" syndrome of "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Churches are stuffed to the brims with parents who have babysitters raising their children, because "Mommy has to work." If Mommy really loved her children, she'd obey the Bible and take heed to Titus 2:4-5! Today's Pharisees have arrogant half-dressed wives, rebellious children, lazy sons, whorish daughters that look like "career women" instead of "ladies professing godliness." Today's Pharisees are taking vacations, watching television, encouraging the reading of the secular "classics" that do not glorify God! Some Pharisees even promote such wicked novels and "fantasies" as Shakespeare, C. S. Lewis, Charles Dickens, and a completely ungodly library of books that do not glorify God, teach righteousness, or edify the saints! What world are they of? If we are citizens of heaven, why do we seek to appease men by giving them the "lesser of two evils" or the "good" pulled from the trashcans of Sodom?
Today's Pharisees and leaders make their spiritual decisions as the politicians of our day make their policies, i.e. by way of polls! They seek to please men instead of God, and tailor their sermons and their stands to please as many people as possible and yet still give the appearance of a "strong stand" against sin! This compromise is not evident in their speech, but is shown by their members, children, and their own actions! If this is true, Paul tells us that they are not the servants of God, as Galatians 1:10 teaches us, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." They are either deceiving themselves into thinking that they are serving God, or they are deceiving others! Nonetheless, they are deceived and being deceived, as II Timothy 3:13 says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." You say, "But they appear to be so good." Yes, they know all the right terms and words, but their actions speak so much louder than their words!! They say that they love the Lord, but in actions, they deny Him as both Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 almost identically state, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
God has shown in His Word the way to tell if a leader is teaching the truth as Jeremiah 23:22-24 says, "But if they had stood in my counsel (practiced righteousness, holiness, and godliness personally), and had caused my people to hear my words (preached righteousness, holiness, and godliness), then they should have turned them from their evil way (Brought about repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit), and from the evil of their doings (They would show by their actions, a changed life - new birth, born again, a new creature in Christ - I Corinthians 5:17)...Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? (The answer to this is a resounding, "No!") saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD." God can see that Pharisees only care that their people give money and attend services! He sees that these Pharisees compromise and lie to their people by not teaching how God feels about sin!! It was man's practicing sin that ruined the relationship between God and man in the Garden. It was man's practicing sin that caused the worldwide flood wiping out the earth. It was man's practicing sin that caused God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. It was man's practicing sin that caused both Israel and Judah to be taken into captivity by God's enemies. It was man's practicing sin that made it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. It was man's practicing sin that condemned all mankind to hell unless they repent of their sins. It was man's practicing sin that caused Ananias and Sapphira to die in front of the church (New Testament, by the way). It is man's practicing sin that has thrown us into these days of apostasy. It is man's practicing sin that causes the unsaved to blaspheme the name of God, as "Christians" live as the world; and it is man's practicing sin that will cause the destruction of the entire world at the end of the age. Yes, it is sin that we must flee from (II Timothy 2:22), it is sin that kills; maims; cripples; destroys; and causes pain, divorce, murder, fear, and confusion! We are supposed to be saved from such sin; yet because no one is exposing such wickedness, this sin is being practiced in the name of God to impress others!!
Pharisees need to stop worrying about how big their church is, how fast they grow, how many people adore them, how many books they have signed, how large their worldly-patterned "colleges" are, how many "ear tickling" conferences they're invited to, and how many doctor's degrees they can pile up behind their name! James 3:1 warns us, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." As a spiritual leader, God's wrath and indignation will be upon those who rebel against God by their idolatry of seeking the approval of man over God.
Many only do "works," when there is a reward offered like "Highest on the List of Churches" or "Entertainer of the Year." "Most Sought Speaker/ Compromiser" is not a distinction for a crown to lay at Christ's feet!! We are to do the work of God by proclaiming righteousness, which will not please men! Yes, we will be rewarded by God; therefore, our work must be pleasing to the Lord, as Ephesians 6:6 tells us, "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." Paul could preach this, because he was willingly serving the Lord from the heart though many turned from him and his teachings. He explained how he preached in I Thessalonians 2:3-6, "For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth (tests our hearts for sincerity) our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, (Oh, that preachers today could say this also) neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ." Why do they preach with flowery "flattering words"? Jesus answered this in John 12:43, "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." It is just so important to them that men praise and look to them, that they willfully disobey the holy commands of God in order to please man. What is the response of Jesus to this? Jesus counters those who are men pleasers by asking this question in John 5:44, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" God will reward, and He will judge!
This fear and reverence of God went with those who went to the stake and lost their families, their homes, their jobs, their relatives, their finances, and their status in the eyes of man! These by faith stood "...of whom the world was not worthy..." (Hebrews 11:38). Yet, they have a place prepared for them, have daily victory over the enslavement of sin, and have eternal rewards as Revelation 12:11 tells us, "And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." These are the "holy" and "godly" servants (I Peter 1:15-16) of Christ who do not look to the thinking or opinions or worldly successes or "religious," mega-church syndrome of those who allow idolatry with the world, immorality portrayed in their living room, violence in their family room, and the hardness of the love of the things of this world in their hearts, as Paul tells us in II Corinthians 10:12-18, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Yes, Paul had a lot to say regarding looking to please man. II Corinthians 10:15-18 teaches us, "Not boasting of things without our measure (which are none of our concern), that is, of other men's labours (How many look to a preacher because of the size of his church or of his following, and justify his sin?); but having hope (assurance), when your faith is increased (By trusting God alone!), that we shall be enlarged (abounding spiritually) by you according to our rule (standard of faith and practice) abundantly (Spiritually we are judged by our amount of faith and obedience to His word, not by crowds, buildings, and opinion), To preach the gospel (The gospel is the entire teaching of holiness and righteousness which is repentance from sin!) in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (and not in someone else's appearance). For not he that commendeth himself is approved (Person who elevates himself by compromise), but whom the Lord commendeth (God will commend the righteous)." Paul did not go about preaching to further himself or as a representative of anything or anyone but Jesus, as he stated in II Corinthians 4:5, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."
Colossians 3:22-24 teaches us as servants of our Lord to submit to Him and all that He has placed over us, "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart (opposite of double-mindedness), fearing God (Who rewards, promotes, and judges all - "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; as rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever He will." (Proverbs 21:1): And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (all your breath, effort, and might - everything you have), as to the Lord (as if commanded by God), and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ (We are His servants in all that we do!)." Preaching is not gauged upon whether it will be accepted by its listeners, for God commanded in Ezekiel 2:5, "And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them."
Yes, those smooth talking "comedians" who travel from church to church condemning righteousness, promoting vacations, television, comforts, and worldliness by not preaching modesty, godliness, Biblical separation, and holiness, will stand before God cursed as Jeremiah 48:10 says, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully (preaches religion and a "head-knowledge salvation" to tickle ears), and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood (Doesn't warn the wicked and the righteous about the coming Judgment of God)." What does Paul tell us of this Judgment of God upon those?? Read Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Paul was speaking to Christians, who, as verse 26 tells us, were sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth! I spoke on the phone to a pastor of a large church who told me that what I was preaching to him was correct (after answering a Bible question regarding his family), yet he told me he could not and would not obey it or preach it, for he would lose his church, his wife, and his whorish daughter!!
"...for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
"...they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garment, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues."
The humblest and meekest Man to have ever walked the earth is the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5-8 describes Him as a role model of humility and selflessness: "Let this mind be in you (humbleness of mind), which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (How much more humiliating could this be, the Creator becoming the created??): And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself (He didn't have to be humbled by someone else, He humbled Himself - willingly), and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Yes, it was very humiliating for the Creator of the universe to become the created, but Jesus went all the way and allowed the created to rule over the Creator, torture Him, mock Him, and then crucify Him!
This humility of Jesus was the perfect example for all to look upon, for we also see the attitude in which He gave all as Hebrews 12:2 tells us, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Yes, you read it correctly, "...the joy that was set before Him...." What great love and affection He had for us "...in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This is something that we did not deserve and never could deserve! Peter explains the reason in I Peter 2:21, "For even hereunto were ye called (for this same reason): because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." His humility, meekness, love, sacrifice, and obedience to our Heavenly Father show us the role model by which we must follow!!
Everything that we are commanded to do; every temptation by which we are tempted; every excuse that we could use; and every possession, person, position, etc. that we must forsake has already been tried, tested, and conquered by our humble Savior!! This is explained to us in Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." He has commanded and has led by example of the power of God upon a life wholly consecrated to His Father! He took upon Himself the form of a man, yet by the power of God remained sinless even through 40 days of fasting, testing, and satanic ridicule! (Matthew 4).
Jesus in the flesh with all of these temptations around Him lived a victorious, sinless life by the power of God! How could He remain sinless and perfect in surroundings that breed sin!? He was tempted to be proud, to exalt Himself, to rebel against the will of His Father, to commit immorality, to compromise, etc., yet in all of these areas and more, He remained completely humble and yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit of God, Who kept Him sinless! This is the blessed example that we are to follow in "...His steps." This is explained in Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
In I Peter 5:5-6 Peter commands preachers, "...and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."
One of the most ungodly things of this generation is the pride and arrogance of today's "Pharisees"!! Their shiny suits, fancy cars, self-exaltation, and compromise with the world has quenched, resisted, and grieved the Holy Spirit of God. Their gimmicks, programs, giveaways, prizes, carnivals, field trips, and other carnal and fleshly lures take the "savor" out of the salt, dull the Sword of the Spirit, entertain instead of convict, and give credit to the leader's wisdom, devotion, and success, instead of giving God the glory. Is this the attitude of Christ or of His disciples?? Would Christ be pleased with the "success" and carnal show of the church that bears His name? Would our meek and lowly King of Kings and Lord of Lords be happy in a state-of-the-art facility built on bank loans and chocolate bar sales? Is this the power of the Holy Spirit of God? Is this how God works modern day miracles? Has God really touched people's hearts to buy chocolate bars from the church, because His hand is now shortened to provide in a miraculous way? Isaiah 50:2 asks this question, "...Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst." God is all-powerful and His hand is not shortened at all to do His Work through us. He is not glorified by "His Work" being done in the flesh!
Pharisees exalt their leadership skills instead of the Savior's sacrifice; their dedication, instead of Christ's power; their articulation, instead of Christ's Word to save, strengthen, and convict; their temporal buildings and facilities, instead of the Kingdom of God; and their legacy, instead of building the body of believers in purity and holiness. What has happened? They have lost the entire purpose of the church and no longer understand the definition of salvation and regeneration. They work in the flesh and Jesus is outside their assembly, as it says in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This is Christ standing at the door of the fellowship of believers (the Bride of Christ - that met in homes!), desiring to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, not in carnality and flesh!!
Much is said throughout the Bible about the importance of humility. First, it is very important to know what true humility is. Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives us a great definition:
HUMIL'ITY, n. [L. humilitas.]
In theology (the study of God- i.e. learning the truth, for He is God and He is truth), humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.
This helps us to understand that humility is not something faked or "put on," but something that comes from the heart!! True humility starts with a truly repentant heart, as we are told in Psalms 34:18, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." This contrite heart is a heart that is in grief over his own sinfulness and inability to please God. Have you ever been overcome with your own unworthiness and thus begun to understand the holiness and power of God?? Have you ever shuttered at the presence and awesomeness of the Lord. Again, a great definition is found in Webster's 1828 dictionary:
CONTRITE, a. [L., to break or bruise; to rub or wear. See Trite.] Literally, worn or bruised. Hence, broken-hearted for sin; deeply affected with grief and sorrow for having offended God; humble; penitent; as a contrite sinner. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17.
Right from the mouth of God we hear what He thinks of those who are humble and have a contrite heart, as we read in Isaiah 57:15, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." What a blessing this is that God will "revive" us as we simply humble ourselves before Him.
Standing behind a pulpit in great eloquence and perfect delivery of ecumenical, patriotic, ideological, philosophical, "power hungering" sermons that "woo" the women and impress the men does nothing to glorify God!! This delivery is the exact opposite of humility and a contrite heart, as it mixes morality, philosophy, past experiences, television shows, and humor, with a hint of Bible to jell just enough to mix up and fry the spiritual thinking of those unfortunate enough to be listening. Soon the listeners are so much in awe of the speaker's eloquence and delivery from an entertaining and comfortable standpoint, that they do not even notice there's no meat at the table, just spoiled milk!
Do we fear God as we should?? God tells us to whom He will "look" in Isaiah 66:2, "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
Do we tremble at the stern warnings of God, or do we listen to the eloquent orators that "tickle ears" and damn souls. Solomon knew from Whom He was blessed, as he describes in Proverbs 15:33, "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility." God was able to honor Solomon because he possessed humility in the fear or godly reverence of God! Most Pharisees today are doing the work of God without the Lord!
Many "rich" churches with bulging bank accounts, plush buildings, comforts, and state-of-the-art facilities brought on by compromise and ear-tickling preaching, are condemned by the judgment of God, as Revelation 3:17 warns, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." These "blessings" from God (borrowed from the bank) begin to drown their souls in perdition, as they elevate themselves and live a life of pious pride trusting in their riches, as Proverbs 18:11 says, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." This high wall keeps them from the Lord Who is looking to those with contrite and humble attitudes (while being content to do God's work, His way)!
John the Baptist was a humble man who understood that he must decrease as Jesus and His work is increased, as is explained in John 3:30, as he spoke of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." This is humility, as he steps aside to glorify the Savior. It builds the head to be loved by all, especially by an earthly ruler; but Jesus, Paul, Peter, John the Beloved, John the Baptist, Philip, Andrew, and all the other apostles and disciples were not loved by the rulers, because of their humility before God to preach the truth!!! They looked not to these rulers, for their Rock, Banner, King of kings, and Lord of lords rules and reigns!!
We are warned not to trust this world or in its riches in Psalm 62:10, "Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them." This arrogance is destructive, as Proverbs 18:12 says, "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility." Before we can be honored in heaven, we must first suffer, which is very humiliating!! II Timothy 2:12 speaks of our reward being received after suffering, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him...." Yes, God will exalt you in due time, but this exaltation is not to name buildings after yourself, street signs, books, tapes, and autographed Bibles!!!!!! Again this is reiterated in Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Of course, few Pharisees are "suffering," as they preach conformity instead of transformation; "infiltration" instead of separation; and "success" instead of obedience. Their guides are books written by the "greats," the "prince of Pharisees," or the "most successful" compromisers!! These books mix philosophy, emotion, salesmanship, leadership training, advertising, etc. to build up the "man" instead of the Lord!! Woe unto them when they stand before God!! God has made us a promise in Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
"What is humility and how do I become humble?" This question can only be answered in Scripture, as we read in James 4:5-7, "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain (for no reason), The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth (is jealous that these Christians were adulterers and adulteresses with the world) to envy?" The Old Testament Scriptures tell us of the jealousy of God (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 4:24), as His people turn from Him to serve the world, the flesh, and the devil!! James had just rebuked those to whom he was writing for being the enemies of Christ, as he called them adulterers and adulteresses! A good cross-reference for this verse is I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Thus, He sees that those who claim to love Him "lose their first love" (Revelation 2:4, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.") and begin to put this world and all of its cares before Him. They begin to put their trust in their eloquence instead of the message of the holiness and righteousness of God! They trust in the finances, crowds, programs, buildings, popularity, and reputation instead of proclaiming a message for which they will be persecuted!! Sin is still wicked, hell is still hot, and Christians still need to be warned of their adversary the devil!
"But he giveth (brings forth) more grace (graciousness, joy, favor). Wherefore he saith, God resisteth (opposes - to range oneself against in order to defeat) the proud, but giveth grace (graciousness, joy, favor) unto the humble." This portion of Scripture is often read over and not explained. What does it mean? First, to whom does God give "more grace," or who is the receiver of the grace of God in this instance? He is speaking of humility and the humble; therefore, he is telling us that God gives even more grace to those who are humble / submissive to His divine will and plan. Isaiah explained this verse in Isaiah 59:15, "Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." The humble are defenseless against the proud and powerful, who have all that this world can aid them in regarding money, power, defense, attorneys, and counsel. The humble become an easy prey, as they appear to be defenseless. Oh, but the proud and self-willed have underestimated the power of the God of the humble. They do not know Him or His might!! Listen to the stand of the humble in II Chronicles 32:8, "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles." The proud have the "arm of flesh" as they trust in their institutions, philosophy, worldliness, and the "seen"; but the true humble have within themselves the knowledge that God is in complete control of all things and that they or anyone else for that matter cannot do anything that God does not allow. This is taught to us in I Peter 3:13, "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
Remember that humility is not in speech or action, but in heart, which results in speech and action, as II Chronicles 7:14 tells us to "...humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways..."!! This is the beginning of repentance, i.e. a genuine relationship with the Creator in total submission to His will and plan, coming to Him knowing that we do not deserve, cannot understand, and have done nothing to acquire His undeserved grace that He has upon the humble!! Understanding humility helps us to understand repentance and grace. For humility is the first step to repentance, and then grace is given to the humble, which leads again to repentance! Salvation is a spiritual regeneration that starts in the heart, as one humbles himself before God as a sinner, is given grace or undeserved favor, and then repents of his sinful state, which gives regeneration or salvation or deliverance from sin!!
In doing His Father's will, Jesus describes His earthly situation in Luke 9:58, "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." This isn't your position, for you are not "required" to suffer as our Lord, for this is too humiliating for someone of your spiritual stature! II Timothy 2:12 says, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." What will you say to those who lost their lives for exposing sin, standing upon the truth, and loving the Lord with all their hearts? How will you reign with Christ, if you have not suffered? Paul quoted the Psalmist (Psalms 69:9) when explaining this suffering in Romans 15:3, "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." People hate those who expose their sin, for as John 3:19 says, "And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Yes, the proud hate those who expose the truth about their pride!!
How is one saved without humility? The very basis for salvation is found in Mark 10:15, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Does this mean that salvation is only for children? No, anyone any age can be saved, but Matthew 18:4 teaches us that this is a condition of the heart, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Just the opposite of this is explained in Matthew 23:12, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." This exaltation is in eternity in the form of crowns and rewards! Again, this is expressed in I Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Again, we are encouraged to humble ourselves and submit to God's will and plan for our lives so that God can exalt us to do more for Him. This exaltation never raises any one person over another, as we are all servants of the Lord and sinners saved by His grace!
It seems that most of the "greats" who entertain at conferences and "revivals" have for themselves an agenda of self-promotion. Anything that they say "in humility" is designed to portray themselves as humble! This arrogance was condemned by John in III John 9-11, "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence (fond of being first, ambitious of distinction, superiority) among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." This is true of professional Pharisees who "boast" of their accomplishments; their lack of sin; their dedication and devotion; their stand against their deacons; their wisdom to get themselves to do their "duty' (I thought according to the Scriptures that we do everything by the power of the Holy Spirit; we do not work for the Lord, because it is our duty!! We surrender ourselves to Him, and by His grace and mercy, He uses us to do His work!),their greatness or superiority in building the institution that is the largest, most loved, or most financially sound!!
The most deadly of all doctrines of devils has affected even the fellowship of true believers to the point that this pride that satan portrayed in Isaiah 14:12-14 has affected the God ordained-leadership as they sound much like satan himself, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Does this follow in the steps of a meek and lowly King of kings, Who prayed in Luke 22:42, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done"? Does this sound like the "greatest prophet," John the Baptist (Luke 7:28), who said of Jesus in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease"? The answer, of course, is a resounding, "No." For Christ came not to be promoted, for in coming, He literally had to demote Himself!! John the Baptist was the "greatest prophet" born of a woman, yet the reason for this, is found in his attitude toward the ministry for which Christ called Him! He was not interested in getting along with the government, nor being accepted by the religious leaders of his day, nor of having the funniest, most entertaining sermons, nor of being accepted by the ungodly in a teaching of "compromise" to "become all sinners to all men"! John the Baptist yielded himself a servant of Christ's, no matter what people thought of him and no matter what it cost him, even his life!!
Such thinking was learned by a close walk and fellowship with Jesus! Learning what Jesus taught and what is being practiced in the norm and acceptable "Baptist Polity" is two different things! It has come to the point that "Baptist Polity" and "Political Correctness" are now brethren!! Read what Jesus said about His servants in Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles (the world - at that time Rome) exercise dominion over them, and they that are great (in the eyes of the world) exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (humble, meek, the attendant or worker); And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (in Christ's steps): Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life (sacrifice, suffer, be forsaken by all) a ransom for many."
Our strongest desire as "friends" of God should be to be heard and spoken to by God, but this cannot be accomplished in the flesh as our pride and self-will hinders us from communion with God. The Psalmist knew how to be heard, as he tells us in Psalms 10:17, "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear." God hears our cry, as Psalms 9:12 states, "When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." Solomon told us the benefit of being humble in Proverbs 16:19, "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."
When God hears and answers our prayers, we are filled with joy and peace knowing that we are pleasing our Savior, as Psalms 69:32 says, "The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God." What a blessing true humility is!! God spoke to Moses "mouth to mouth as He tells us in Numbers 12:7-8, "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold...." Why would God speak so personally with Moses? Read what God had to say about Moses in Numbers 12:3, "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth)." This lack of self-will was seen by God. Though Moses made some mistakes in his life, God was able to use him because of his humility!
This is the type of leader that God is looking for, i.e. someone who follows the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, breaks camp or sets up camp according to His command, listens to the laws and writes them down, has close communion with God, and preaches the truth to others no matter who it offends. This is the life of Moses, the meekest man! Oh, what God could do with a man surrendered to Him! Don't allow satan to tempt you into exalting yourself over others, as this will only destroy your relationship with the Lord. Humble yourself as a little child, for as God gave others personal direction, He is still God and loves to hear the prayers of the humble!
"And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." Matthew 23:7-10
What satan could not do to stop, hinder, or destroy by the severe persecution of the early followers of Christ after Jesus' ascension, he was able to accomplish by changing his tactics to an extreme toleration and eventually worldly promotion of the church leaders at a very high spiritual price! This marked the beginning of the Catholic Church, which in turn began to persecute the faithful few who stood upon Scripture and refused to be a part of this antichrist church. No matter what label satan puts on his deception (even an earthly prosperous church), it is still full of wicked lies from the pit of hell. In this "new" government sponsored "church," pride ran rampant as self-promotion by titles and positions darkened the spiritual eyes of all deceived by such a "good thing" as relief from suffering! Yet, in this relief satan mixed his doctrines of devils and swindled those "...who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 4)."
God has always had a pure church, as those who have continued to stand have continued to be persecuted and rejected by society and by the false religions of today. There is only one way to heaven, Jesus Christ; and He has provided salvation to all who humble themselves, repent of their sins, and give Him not only their "hearts" but also themselves! This is not the accepted teaching of our day as multitudes are calling Pentecostals, Lutherans, Methodists, Catholics, etc. "Christian" brethren. Now, it may be true that these are their brethren, if satan is their father; but if Christ Jesus our loving and merciful Savior is our Brother and His Heavenly Father is your Heavenly Father by your repentance and His knowledge of you, then these antichrists are not your brethren, but children of the devil, who have successfully preached an accepted doctrine of "damnation" (supposed to be salvation). This is one of the doctrines of devils that have come from the unholy alliance with Rome! Many true brethren are exposing those who praise the pope and the Roman Catholic Church as well as ecumenicalism, yet what they may not understand is these have the same father, the devil, and are not returning to Rome, but simply showing what the "root of the tree" is planted in!!
O, the sharp contrast of Jesus, the Servant and Minister, to those who claim today the "title" of His servant and minister!! He came to give; they take! He had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58); they desire a parsonage (find this in the Bible)! He had no money to pay His bills (Matthew 17:27; Acts 3:6); they desire a salary, a pension, an IRA, paid vacations, bonuses, and traveling expenses - find any of these in Scripture! He worked a miracle to pay His taxes (God Himself paying taxes, yet most say churches must be tax-exempt "for you cannot tax God!" They must not understand Who Jesus is!), yet they not only are tax exempt, but many cheat the government even in this! He came riding a donkey (Matthew 21:7); they want a luxury car, sports car, or "new" car, for they are "children of the King!" He was mocked, ridiculed, rejected, and abandoned (Matthew 27:29; Mark 14:50), they are loved, praised, promoted, followed, and included! He and His followers were hated by the rulers (John 15:18-19), despised by the religious leaders, and not accepted by the great majority; they are loved by presidents, senators, etc. as being morally decent members of society who never rock the boat or expose anyone's sins! He and His followers preached that we were citizens of heaven (John 18:36; 8:23; I John 4:5; Philippians 3:29; Ephesians 2:19), but ambassadors here on earth, and strangers and pilgrims on this earth. They preach politics, support the "lesser of two evils" in voting, use worldly wisdom and psychology to make decisions, and have elected with their "vote" (find this in the Bible as a "God-given right") homosexuals, abortionists, antichrist presidents (who believe that Christians and Muslims are worshiping the same god!), and have even allowed this trash into their fellowship of believers to be promoted, as if God had commanded this!
A side note here is necessary. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to "vote," for we are commanded by God in John 7:24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Righteous judgment is a hatred for sin, an understanding that God promotes and demotes according to His will (Psalms 75:6-7; Job 12:18; Daniel 2:21; 4:17; Jeremiah 27:5), no matter how many people are sidetracked (Philippians 3:13)! We could put anyone in the White House, Congress, Parliament, or as king of the world, yet the will of the Lord would still be done! II Timothy 2:4-5 teaches us this, "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." We're not fighting a fleshly battle, as Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"! Why are you so sidetracked into thinking that laws, rulers, armor, and governments are going to be able to protect us! God's hand is not shortened that He cannot save and protect, "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity" (Isaiah 59:1-4).
He had only one hundred twenty in the upper room (Acts 1:15); they have thousands of ungodly followers and have the love and admiration of all who love the world, dress as close to the world as possible, reject their God-given roles in the home, love the worldly entertainments, love to "fit in" with the world, and love to rub shoulders with the "religious" entertainment crowd. (These love to remake our Savior as a longhaired freak. They thrill to see Him suffer again and to reenact it on film. They love to join in "religious" endeavors with wicked companies that also produce filth and trash! (These especially love fantasy stories to pervert the thinking of their children who will now question if the miracles and stories of the Bible are as true as the wicked movie or storybook that their parents have advocated as okay! Paul said in II Timothy 2:4, "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.")
He spoke of suffering, righteousness, holiness, godliness, brotherhood, eternal rewards, and separation (John 7:16); they speak of peace on earth, prosperity, compromise, morality, acceptance in society, worldly promotion, and temporal possessions! Yes, what a difference between the life of our Savior and the teachings of those who seek for titles without fulfilling their requirements!
He had twelve that followed Him; and into one, satan entered (causing him to betray Him), one denied Him, and all forsook Him. They are almost worshipped even when they have sinned against God! He had the title "man of sorrows"; they claim the title "Doctor," "Reverend," "Prince of Pharisees," and "Greatest Preacher of our time." He wore common clothes and spoke the common language; they wear impressive, shiny, expensive suits making themselves look like a doctor, lawyer, or other professional secular occupation, as they speak above the understanding of the common people to build up themselves, seek the same financial status, and also lie to their people!
Yes, what a contrast as "ministers" today seek for fancy titles and designations against the clear teachings of Jesus Who commanded, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." This is taught throughout the entire New Testament by all the authors, who were divinely inspired by God. There are some who even call themselves "reverend," yet Psalms 111:9 teaches us, "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." We are but servants of His! He is to be revered and feared, for He it is that men are to seek after! If we draw people unto ourselves, what can we do in our own strength for them? But if we uplift the King of kings and Lord of lords, we do His service; for He is worthy to be praised, not a mortal man!
Paul rebuked the Corinthians for this same sin of elevating men in I Corinthians 3:1-6, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal (they had fleshly thinking as if man had the ability to do something for their spiritual benefit), even as unto babes in Christ (Babes elevate and make heroes out of anyone who influences their lives). I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it (This is very evident by their fleshly speech!), neither yet now are ye able (They do not understand that Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and the other leaders are only representatives of the One to Whom they should be seeking with all their hearts.). For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions (All of these are definitely works of the flesh.), are ye not carnal, and walk as men (We are commanded Galatians 5:16, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh)? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal (Yes, churches are full of carnal men followers! Read Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit"). Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers (Whom are we to depend upon? Read I Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God") by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man (These men were given according to Ephesians 4:12, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ")? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."
Loyalty to a man with a "title" that proclaims every one his own goodness is carnality, as Proverbs 20:6 tells us that God is looking for a man faithful to Christ, who decreases, so that Christ may be glorified! "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful (Faithful to the truth, not just faithful to a program, schedule, daily routine, etc. - all of these will build the man's head and bring followers to him!) man who can find?" A man who is faithful to the teachings of Christ and growing in the truth is the type of man that God was looking for in Ezekiel 22:30, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." Jeremiah 5:5 tells us that he sought for a man also among the "great men," and here is what he found, "I will get me unto the great men (The ones with the most hypocrites for members, because size is "God's blessing"), and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds." How many Pharisees use this text out of context!! Listen to what Elihu learned in Job 32:9, "Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment."
Remember that Paul explained that he and any other "elder" were simply servants of God entrusted with the truth, not title seekers! It is the responsibility of the "elder" or pastor to turn people to the Lord, so that He is glorified, as I Peter 5:2 teaches us, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." These men are not to be lords, but examples as they preach and live the truth! Is this ever hard to find in "churches" where few Scripture references are given in a "sermon"; and illustrations, quotes, jokes, philosophies, and past experiences dominate! Again, Paul encouraged Timothy to "Preach the Word!!" but how can the Word be preached if the "preacher" isn't trained in the Bible, but in books, histories, philosophies, psychologies, "Baptist policies," and "Roberts Rules of Order"!
Degrees, praises, honors, presidential citations, Nobel Prizes, book-signings, building naming, and personalized memorabilia follow! Who are these "well organized" program experts, that write books on how to build a church (I thought Christ built the church - Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18), and how to raise teenagers (The authors, whose children went deep into immorality, should've read the Bible and given the praise to God, for it is God that works in the hearts of our children as we teach them the truth and live in humility and obedience before them!!). Leadership training and "Duty" are works of the flesh! These speakers are no different from the Catholics, with their titles, positions, perfect services, plush pews, "altars" (where do you find this in the New Testament - apart from the Old Testament building!), and state-of-art facilities built on the finances of the people, promise the blessing of God! Jesus rebuked His disciples for glorying in buildings in Matthew 24:2, explaining to them that these buildings were temporal and fleshly; and they were not to be worshipped. Jesus came in a manger, His disciples and followers met in houses, and His Holy Spirit dwells within us! The buildings came from Constantine around 313 AD, and secular history tells us that before this time there was no such thing as a "Christian church" building, nor were there any Christians in the military!
"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Paul expressed this to us in II Corinthians 1:24, "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." Instead of worrying about the size of the church, pleasing of the people, and your salary, fear God! Paul warns us of this in Acts 20:27, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Paul did not preach big days, fall programs, and fleshly gimmicks; nor, contrary to what "theologians" interpret his writings, did Paul exalt himself above any other! He did exalt his calling as one given by God to encourage those to follow Christ! He also encouraged his spiritual son in I Timothy 4:15, "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine (God's Word!); continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." What a privilege to be a servant of the Lord's even though we must preach the truth to a rebellious people who desire to live in rebellion against the holy teachings of the Word of God.
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12
We have seen through Scripture that being a servant takes the power of the Holy Spirit of God and is naturally against the flesh! As Jesus rebuked these Pharisees, He exposed the motives and intents of their hearts. He showed that they had now turned the service of God into a fleshly show and devilish elevation of one over another! The pride that comes from their father, the devil, shows that their hearts were not right with God. They began to use the service of the Lord as a position and occupation of the ruling class instead of a service of love from the heart, as Romans 6:17 says, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (not from man, but from God)." God has well recorded how man has taken His teachings and ministry and turned them into positions of power, finances, and self-gratification!!
We see the prophecy that men would use the "ministry" of God to teach sin, wickedness, and financial profit in II Peter 2:1-3, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies (prosperity, head knowledge salvation, no repentance, saved "to" sin), even denying the Lord that bought them (Titus 1:16, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate"), and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many (the majority - mega-churches full of practicing sinners!) shall follow their pernicious (spiritually destructive) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (they condemn holiness, righteousness, and godly living!). And through covetousness (desire for more money, fame, power, praise, and titles) shall they with feigned (insincere and faked) words make merchandise (a profit on you, but selling you seminars, programs, philosophies, sermons, CDs, cassettes, books, and memberships!!) of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." Yes, God's judgment will come upon these who sell everything that they can get their hands upon in the name of God's ministry. They charge for schools, colleges, tapes, CDs, books, Bibles, food, teaching material, seminars, "youth conferences" (when "godly" Pharisees prove to the young people that they can be just as worldly, carnal, and fleshly as any other unsaved person), retreats, day care (Why would godly women need day care, when it is their responsibility to rear their own children??), and any other item or service that a price tag can be placed upon! This is contrary to Scripture, as we read the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." We received salvation and the truth from the Word of God freely, as God did not charge us for such a priceless gift. Are we then to turn around and make merchandise of our neighbor in the name of God's work? Paul wanted to please the Lord by doing all that he could freely, even to the point of not receiving anything from some churches as he says in I Corinthians 9:18, "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel." Yes, brethren, many are abusing their powers incorporating their churches as businesses, taking a ministry designed to be in dependence upon God in faith, and setting it up to be a business with employees and benefits given by the state! God doesn't need your money, for as Psalms 24:1 teaches us, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and doesn't desire gifts, as He says in Psalms 50:12, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." Yet, how many Pharisees preach for money, giving false claims of God's blessings upon the givers only to waste the money on building programs, cars, and temporal things!!
They may have started out with the desire to preach the truth, but they in the end realized that very few desire the truth, and it is a very lonely and unpopular position to have! After rubbing shoulders with the "great men," they stopped preaching against sin, and started comforting the convicted hearts under the condemnation of God. Soon their ministry became a job as their wife desired nicer things like all the other pastor's wives, and their children desired to fit in with all the other heathens. The philosophy of the worldly accepted made their hearts cold and their Spirits grieved. God's work does not make worldly sense, nor can one understand its purpose, for it cannot be done in the flesh. It is a spiritual battle fought not with finances, buildings, programs, giveaways, prizes, campaigns, money thermometers, and strategies! God's work is turning a rebellious heart to the Lord so that the person is willing to give all to the Savior, even if it means his life! This battle will never be won in the flesh!
By not preaching repentance and total surrender to the Lord, these Pharisees substitute the truth for morality, politics, entertainment, and kids' programs designed or modeled after the world. Children need to be under preaching, not dressing up like the "Boy Scouts" or playing games, coloring pictures, etc. Jeremiah warned a false prophet in Jeremiah 28:15, "Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie." This can be said today to those in the pulpits who refuse to warn their people that God will judge their sin! They lie to the people by comforting them in their sins, instead of exposing their sins so that they can repent! Again, the Lord is speaking to these false Pharisees in Jeremiah 27:15, "For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you." This is the punishment that God is bringing upon these yellow-bellied compromisers who refuse to take a stand against sin! God warns us that these pleasure seeking hypocrites who seek to please men will deceive those who look to them as Jeremiah 29:8 says, "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD." Our bodies are the temple of God (I Corinthians 6:19) as the Holy Spirit of God dwells within us; how then can we join His holy temple to the wickedness of this world? Jeremiah 7:10 condemns those who desecrate the temple of God by practicing sin therein, "And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD." God has not called us out of sin to continue in it, as I Thessalonians 4:7 states, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." By not preaching holiness as God has commanded (Leviticus 11:44; I Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14; II Corinthians 7:1), these teachers spread lies as again Jeremiah 14:14 exposes, "Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." Jude says well what has happened to these false teachers in verse 4, "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, they do not know the Scriptures enough to understand God or His holiness, and it is very apparent that they do not fear God, for if they feared God as they should, they would show it by their actions! Therefore, they twist and distort the Scriptures that they do know to their own destruction, as Peter confirmed for us that Paul's teachings are indeed Scripture in II Peter 3:16, "As also in all his (Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other scriptures (this confirms to us that Paul's teachings are indeed Scripture - other Scriptures, which includes Paul's), unto their own destruction." Jude goes on to explain that this destructive greed and self-exaltation is not new for it reminds him of many in the Old Testament as he explains in verses 11-13, "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain (envy, jealousy, greed), and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core (wanted to exalt himself). These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear (without the fear of the Lord and of His judgment): clouds they are without water (spiritually useless), carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." What damnation is brought upon those who show outwardly, what is in their hearts! Again, we realize that many of these are described in II Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." These are also condemned and described in II Timothy 3:5-7, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." They are ever learning and ever teaching, yet they just don't understand that what they are to be teaching is the thinking and doctrine of God! They just do not comprehend, because they are the natural man, teaching what makes sense and "works." Another very good description is found in I Timothy 6:3-12, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words (words of truth, Sound Doctrine - Titus 2:1), even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud (like satan), knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness (big churches, large bank accounts): from such withdraw thyself. But godliness (holiness and righteousness) with contentment is great gain... But they that will be rich fall (loving the things of the world - I John 2:15-17) into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith (Romans 14:17), and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things (run); and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith (not fighting for numbers, professions, and records, but righteousness and holiness first in your life and then in those to whom God sends you), lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
Satan knows that his time is short; therefore, he has gone to great lengths to deceive, sidetrack, slow down, and destroy the godly ministry of the servants of the Lord! He will use every form of pride, self-exaltation, rebellion, false teaching, compromise, reformation, sensuality, greed, envy, jealousy, hatred, lust, perversion, philosophy, conformity, covetousness, fear of man, fear of loss, idolatry, immorality, fornication, "deacon boards," wives, children, relatives, mother-in-laws, large titles, success, fame, acceptance, money, promotion, and a million other devilish schemes that can only be overcome by those who are completely surrendered over to the will of the Lord and the doctrine of God! In these last days, the world is flooded with false teachers who come so close to the truth, yet you will know them by their fruits, as Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:16, 20. John warns us to test cautiously the spirits in I John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
No matter how pretty the package that deception comes in, it is still not the work of God. All that we can do for Jesus is hear His word, apply it to our lives, and practice it. It is not our doctrine that we are teaching. It is not our performance that we are propagating. It is not our reputation that we are promoting. It is not our actions that we are defending! It is the eternal life-changing truth right from the mouth of God that must be taught in all purity, sincerity, and humility so that the power of the Holy Spirit will not be grieved, quenched, resisted, or hindered from doing His work to change the hearts of men. Remember what Jesus told us in John 7:16-18, "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."
A true servant of God is just that - a servant of the holy, righteous, and awesome God that hates sin and loves righteousness. Remember, Jeremiah 23:22 says, "But if they had stood in my, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings ...Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD." Yes, today's Pharisees have not turned their people from their sins because they are hypocrites, seeking to please man, "ministering" with wrong motives, proud, and rebellious against God.
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Galatians 4:16