ARE YOU A PHARISEE?

MATTHEW 16:6,12 NKJ 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why did Jesus warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisees? What did they do wrong?

(An entire chapter of the Bible (Matthew 23) is Jesus' teaching against the Pharisees.)

The Pharisees were conservative, faithful "church" members. They accepted the Bible as the written Word of God. They paid tithes. They believed in miracles (at least in days past). They wouldn't dream of stealing, committing adultery, or such things. You would like living next to a Pharisee as they were model citizens.

But instead of having a living relationship with God, the Pharisees took the Word of God and made just another dead religion out of it.

The Pharisee way of thinking is: keep up appearances. "It doesn't matter so much what you are on the inside, as long as you keep the rules (at least publicly)."

Notice that Jesus likened their teaching to leaven, or yeast. Why? Yeast spreads easily and rapidly. Humans are very susceptible to approaching God in this manner, "Keep the rules. Just do these 10 things and you are OK."

Different groups may have different rules, but we all accumulate them. It may be how many times each week you must attend church meetings, or what kind of clothes you must wear, or how you must wear your hair. Or, it may be a list of things you cannot do. But, as long as you meet these requirements, you are in good standing with your group (or denomination).

But, good standing with God is based on only one thing according to the New Testament: faith in what Jesus did for us. That alone is what makes us right with God. Not our works, but Jesus' work.

LUKE 12:1 NKJ 1 ... He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The Pharisees were hypocrites. That is, they put on an act. What they pretended to be in public was not really what they were like in private. They claimed to be perfect in keeping God's law, but as humans they were all sinners, just like the rest of the people were. Yet, in public, they insisted that others keep the Law perfectly, or be condemned.

They were quick to pass judgment on others, and slow to extend mercy or help. The Pharisees had a legalistic view of God's Word and did not realize that God was merciful and wanted to help people.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 NKJ 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Using God's Word to "kill" instead of using it to minister life is wrong. God's Word is meant to help people and lift them up, not place such hard demands on them that they cannot ever measure up. When we load people down with heavy loads of rules to keep in order to be right with God, we are ministers of death.

MATTHEW 23:1-5 NLT 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 "Everything they do is for show. . . .

If your "Christianity" is nothing more than a list of "do's and don'ts" then you are missing real Christianity, which is a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

SAY THIS: Jesus does not want me to act like a Pharisee.

God bless you!

Dear Father,

You instructed a young prophet, saying, “Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.” But there was an old prophet who came and misled him, saying, “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water.” But he lied to him. This very act cost the young prophet his life.

The unsettling part of this story is that the Scripture refers to a man who caused the downfall of another in the same field he operated, a prophet! I strongly believe in and advocate for mentorship, and a model who has gone before us often has greater influence on our decisions, especially when its a trusted voice. Today, I am concerned about people we look up to, whose words of direction and contributions to our assignment, although genuine, may lead us astray.

I think of those moments in our destiny when, in what seems like a dilemma, we must choose between obedience to You and what appears to be rebellion against a trusted voice. And like the younger prophet, we may be faced with the risk of letting our guard down. How can we, in such situations, know which way to go? Especially when what they talk us into is not bad in itself. If a man who clearly heard You fell victim, how can we trust our own discernment?

I do not have all the answers, Father. But I have developed a pattern: whenever I experience contradictions, to always check back with You. I believe in mentorship, but I also believe that every trusted voice may not always speak a trusted word.

Translations;
Slide 1: English
Slide 2: French
Slide 3: Bengali
Slide 4: Hindi
Slide 5: Urdu

#LettertoGod
#mentorship
#instructions
#dilemma
#obedience

PROVERB OF THE DAY

(Proverbs 20)

1. Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3. It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4. The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

7. The righteous
man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.

8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

9. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

10. Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

11. Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The LORD has made them both.

13. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

15. There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18. Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.

19. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

20. Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.

22. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD,
And dishonest scales are not good.

24. A man’s steps are of the LORD;
How then can a man understand his own way?

25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

26. A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

28. Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29. The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Acts 27:

"1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land."

A Nugget of Truth.
“The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”

This quote agrees with the teaching of Scripture. No man grows in the knowledge of God by neglecting Him. A close relationship with the Lord is not built in a moment, but through daily fellowship in His Word and in prayer.

The Bible says:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Many people have time for work, entertainment, social media, and worldly pleasures, yet very little time for God. Then they wonder why they are spiritually weak. A starving soul cannot be strong. Jesus said,

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

To know God is more than knowing facts about Him. It is to walk with Him, obey Him, and delight in His presence. David declared,

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” — Psalm 119:97 (KJV)

If you desire to know Christ more deeply, make time every day to read His Word, pray without ceasing, and seek His face. The Lord reveals Himself to those who diligently seek Him.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

Do not wait until tomorrow. Every day spent without seeking God is a day of missed fellowship. Open your Bible today, humble your heart before the Lord, and give Him the first place in your life. For those who truly know God are those who continually seek Him. Amen.

✟
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:16

In some Bible translations, John 19:2 reads
"And the soldiers TWISTED together a crown of thorns and placed it on His head..."

JESUS is The One King whom the Old Testament book of laws and of prophets all longed for.
HE is also the same LORD that the New Testament disciples all looked back on.

Today, we see a list of thousands of religious groups that were established even before we were born.

Some religions led families to charity, humility, and blessings of heaven, and we should be happy about that.

On the other hand, there are still existing congregations that when left unchecked, crush souls, control people, and create even more divisions while protecting and elevating a few, canceling others instead of celebrating shared prosperity together and of keeping alive our hope for eternity through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. This is devastating but not unusual. Sadly, it happens to both the humblest local sects and cathedrals of megachurches.

But The Bible ends with "GRACE", not with chronic depression and hopelessness.

The consistent pattern throughout the Scriptures is that it redirects all our devotion and attention to GOD.

The book of Genesis starts with: "In the beginning, GOD created..."

While Revelation ends with:

"The grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all. Amen."

The scene where the soldiers thought of twisting together a crown of thorns displays this fallen world and our tendency to join or create yet another religion that may only give us and others headaches instead of leading us to have a vision of our Savior: THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH —JESUS.

And just as JESUS bled and was painfully hurt by the soldiers' twisted crown of thorns they designed for His head, we can also expect to experience a similar sense of treatment from others against our mental headspace as we now pursue the glory of GOD through His Son, JESUS CHRIST.

Our LORD has done His part.
His sacrifice on the cross is finished.
THE WORD OF GOD is sufficient.
His Holy Spirit is given to our hearts.

Reflection questions:

Where is He leading you today?
What is He directing you to do?
When was the last time you had an honest talk with JESUS?

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father,

You are The GOD of sound mind.
You give clarity where there is confusion and provide us with correction when needed.
You feed Your children with daily bread through Your incorruptible WORD that nourishes, strengthens, and teaches us to see yet another day of grace through the cross of CHRIST.

Despite the twisted crown of thorns You humbly received from fallen humanity, You still finished Your journey then with us in Your mind.

Forgive us LORD GOD, for the many times we dishonored Your precious words by how we responded to Your grace through our actions and imaginations. We ask that you also give a forgiving heart to those we have hurt in this earthly journey and comfort us through the pains we still do carry.

We ask You to lead us into a lasting and honest fellowship with Your Holy Spirit and keep us joyfully serving You and the people You surround us with as we await Your return.

In JESUS' Name, Amen.

Matthew 12:49
“And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren!”

#perception
#notdeception 🫣
#religion
#LifeWithJESUS 🕊

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 1 Kings 17:7

At a critical times, God sent Elijah to the brook to be sustained while ravens brought bread to him. However, after a while the brook dried up, so God gave him another instruction. The brook dried up but God never dried.
Simply put, our trust must be on God not on the blessings of God. Once our trust is resting solely on God then no matter what happens to the blessing, the job, money, business and relationship will not bring us down because God will always make a way for us.
Thank God for the brook (BLESSING), but keep your trust in God. Remember, WHEN THE BROOK DRIES UP, GOD NEVER DRIES. HE WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.
IT IS GOD THAT SUSTAINS US THROUGH THE BROOK. AND HE CAN DECIDE WHICH BROOK OR MEANS TO SUSTAIN US.
SELAH

YAHWEH IS ON YOUR SIDE TODAY

PST EMAMUZO PETER

This is Ezekiel 34:2-4 season.

Here is DAILY BREAD FOR THE LAST DAYS :

TODAY'S WORD
Text: Jeremiah 23:1-2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord... You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them.”
Also: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions...”

MESSAGE: SHEPHERDS, RETURN TO THE HEART OF GOD
The Lord is crying over His sheep in these last days.

1. THE WARNING TO SHEPHERDS
God says “Woe” to shepherds who feed themselves instead of the flock.
When a shepherd chases the world and its things - money, fame, titles - he leaves the sheep hungry.
When he preaches prosperity gospel but not holiness gospel, he trades eternal gifts for temporary bread.
John 10:12 “The hireling... sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees.”
A flock that is not sanctified is a flock that will be lost. Because “without holiness no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14

2. THE WARNING TO THE CHURCH
Saved church, wake up!
Jealousy, hatred, gossip, disobedience to the Word... this is not the garment of Christ Colossians 3:8-10.
When we cling to itching ears and reject sound doctrine, we become easy prey.
God’s will is not just prosperity in the pocket. It is sanctification of the soul 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Jesus did not die to make us rich. He died to make us HOLY.

3. STRENGTHENING & ENCOURAGEMENT
But there is hope. 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
To every faithful shepherd: Keep feeding the Word. Keep calling to repentance.
To every sheep: Return to the Word. Love holiness more than miracles. Love Jesus more than blessings.

PRAYER:
Father, raise up shepherds after Your own heart Jeremiah 3:15. Purify the pulpit. Purify the pew. Let us not trade eternity for earth. Sanctify us by Your truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ACTION TODAY:
For Shepherds/Teachers: Check your message. Is it pointing people to Jesus and holiness, or just to prosperity?
For All: Forgive anyone you have bitterness toward today. Gossip and hatred grieve the Holy Spirit Ephesians 4:30-31.

Daily devotion for August 18th
Where To Begin
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

Nehemiah 9:5b
This prayer in the book of Nehemiah is a great model that will teach us much for our own prayer life. It begins with a great section of praise. First, God is praised as the Creator and Maker of everything. Beginning with the life He gave you is a great place to start when you are praising God. It seems strange to me that people who are dependent every moment on God to give them life allow themselves so easily to forget that fact. God sustains us moment by moment. We ought to be grateful for that. Let us never forget that our very breath comes from Him.

The next section praises God as the caller and chooser of people. He is the one who gives undeserved blessings to those He chooses. God is the keeper of promises. Not one of us would be here today if it were not for that merciful, sovereign call of God. Jesus said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (John 6:44). We are here today because the Spirit of God in wondrous grace has drawn us to Himself.

Then the people praise God as the deliverer from sin and its enslavement. They retell the history of this nation, beginning with the call of Abraham and their deliverance from Egypt. Some of us have forgotten the lessons God has taught us and have returned to the same sins, plunging ourselves once more into rebellion and slavery. Let us never forget that we have been wonderfully, even miraculously, delivered by the great hand of God.

Praise for God as the great provider of wisdom and the necessities of life follows. Here is God's providential care of His own. He taught this people how to live in the midst of great wickedness. He knew he was sending them into a land inhabited by tribes who were morally degraded to a degree that is appalling to us today. They offered their children to the god Molech by throwing them alive into a furnace of fire. It was among these people that the Israelites had to live. Yet God taught them how to avoid defilement from those things. He taught them how to be friends with these people but not be destroyed by their immorality. It is exactly the situation we are called to live in today. God has given us this wonderful book that teaches us the rules of life, health, salvation, and deliverance and the inner strength that can resist the temptations that abound all around us. To neglect it is folly.

God also supplied their needs. He gave them bread to eat when there was none. He gave them water from the rock in the middle of the desert. That is not only an account of meeting physical needs, but it describes the meeting of spiritual needs as well. The New Testament tells us these are pictures of Christ: He is the bread of life; He is the water of life. As the Israelites learned the meaning of these symbols, they began to understand that there was One coming who would fully meet the need of the human heart.

Father, I praise and worship You as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, as the One who has chosen me and drawn me to Yourself and the One who provides all that I need