7/15/20 - ARE YOU A PHARISEE OR A DISCIPLE?

Luke 6:6-11 MSG

“On another Sabbath he went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. The religious scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: “Get up and stand here before us.” He did. He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out-it was completely restored! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with Him. Then Jesus addresses them, “Let me ask you something: What kind of actions suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?”

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 MSG

“But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? Ouch 😓

If you’re a frequent reader of the Gospels you’ll notice that no matter where Jesus went a Pharisee was always lurking around. Not to grow, not to learn from Jesus, but to find something to use as entrapment. They were jealous of everything He did. They were who Jesus said ‘nullified the Word of God by their traditions they handed down.’ They had a lot to say, always giving advice but never following their own instructions. (Matthew 23)

This is why you’ll read me writing, “I’ll never ask you to do anything I haven’t or would not do as it relates to the things of God.” We’re saved to be witnesses not do witnessing. We can’t just talk, unless it lines up with our walk. This kind of living creates confusion in onlookers.

We will never be able to take someone spiritually where we haven’t been ourselves. We cannot offer help or advice in areas where we lack experience except through supernatural discernment by the Holy Spirit. We may have empathy in most cases, we may even suggest, but we cannot for a certainty, offer what we are lacking in our own hearts and lives. It borders on hypocrisy, leading where you’re not willing to follow. The actions of the Pharisees suggests insecurity on their part. Were they secure, as they had led others to believe, in what they were teaching, then nothing Jesus was doing and teaching would be threatening. They were so stuck on tradition as it pertained to the sabbath laws, that they couldn’t appreciate the man being made whole. If you are sick and you went to the doctor and he -without looking at you- told you to come back tomorrow, would you go back to him? Probably not! That was how living among Pharisees was for the people who followed them. Lots of legalism without real solutions. Yet the people kept going back.

Jesus came and offered a better way-A way that offered real solutions to life’s problems. He is the Lord of the sabbath (Matthew 12:8) if He’s the Lord of it, then He decides how and when it is celebrated. The true sabbath keepers worship Him, every day of the week. This is what Jesus was trying to get through to them. He was the fulfillment of the sabbath law. We don’t worship the day, as the Pharisees were doing, we worship Him. In the Old Testament, God had them set a day of rest apart, not because of the day’s sake, but as a time to reset and focus on Him. This was His way of teaching gentile nations to honor Him. To show that He would provide for His people even while they were resting. He was teaching God- reliance over self reliance. We saw that in them trying to hoard the manna. Exodus 16

I don’t claim to have all the answers to all things bible or life in general, but I do know where to go to find the answers that I need. And that’s what I endeavor to bring to each of you every day. I try my best to avoid my opinions because they will never change your life. But the Word of God always will, IF you’re open to receiving it.

The Bible says Jesus went about doing good for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 He did good because ‘God was with Him’ we too will do good if God is with us.

Followers of Christ who refuse to grow up, will not promote the purposes of God. To remain in the baby stages of your walk with Jesus will open the door to all kinds of confusion. ( see Galatians 3) Jesus said in John 8:32 “Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The word ‘know or to know’ in Hebrew, most always refers to intimacy. You will not experience spiritual freedom without a clear understanding or intimacy with God’s inspired Word. As was the case with the Pharisees, they were so confident they had all the answers, that they saw anything Jesus did or said, not only threatening, but inferior to their knowledge of the laws of Moses.

If you are secure in your faith in Jesus, which only comes through a personal relationship with Him through the studying of His Word, then the truth of the Word will protect you from false teachings and religion. This knowledge cannot be acquired by the unspiritual mindset. Everything in scripture is only spiritually discerned and received.

1 Corinthians 2:14 speaks of the carnal mindset, it is easier to speak with someone who’s not knowledgeable but hungry, than someone who purports to know the Word yet refuses to live it. That’s the problem Jesus encountered with the Pharisees of His day. That’s why an entire mob of religious elites were overlooked and a tax collector in a tree was acknowledged (Luke 18) At one point Jesus said. “If you were blind then you would be guiltless, but since you claim to see, you will die with your intellectual knowledge.”(My translation of John 9:41)He actually said they would die in their sin. Same difference😊refusing to budge. Won’t commit to the Truth, but fully committed to religious jargon.

People who “Walk away from God” are unfulfilled, disillusioned by religion and never fully understood what it truly meant to be a follower of Christ Jesus. We often hear people say “I thought I knew him/her” what they’re actually saying is “I was deceived.” That never applies to our relationship with Christ. He doesn’t deceive us.(Hebrews 13:8)This is why a personal encounter with Him is of utmost importance. You will never know Him through a religious experience. Jesus told the Pharisees “you don’t know Me or My Father” John 8:19-20 and John 16:1-4.

Whenever one walks away from a marriage relationship, they may find and eventually marry someone else. But when a disciple walks away from God there’s no other alternative that will shield them from the irreparable damage that decision will bring to their immortal souls, God is IRREPLACEABLE. So saying ‘I no longer believe in or love God’ is to admit that I never knew Him. Knowing Him, first and foremost by receiving Him as your personal Lord and Savior, not by mental assent. A disciple has first hand knowledge, knowledge gained from intimacy or close contact with the object of your affection. Through a careful study of His Word and devoting quality time to building and growing the relationship, you will be kept from walking away. Why? Because like being in a marriage, you’re invested and committed to getting to know, and growing with your Bridegroom Jesus. Being His, His disciple.

Only a foolish person walks away from a great marriage, a tested marriage, to join themselves to the unknown. I’m guessing the Holy Spirit is wanting to draw God’s people back to intimacy, He’s not letting go of the subject. We will become apostates if we’re not rooted and grounded in our relationship with Christ. Remember the parable of the Sower(Jesus) and the seed (the Word)? Some received the Word with gladness but at the first sign of pressure, they cut and ran. Mark 4:14-20 read that scripture again whenever you have the time.

I’ll close with this true story: Years ago I was a part of a ministry in the Township where I lived. Our pastor was being transferred to another state. As they began the interviewing process they brought in a young man to preach. I listened to his resume but paid close attention to his spirit. What I learned that morning was that he had a degree in religion but not a degree in relationship with Jesus. He had Bible knowledge but no relationship to the Author of the Bible he had studied. He had the resume of a trained Pharisee, very articulate but no anointing. At the end of his sermon, I approached one of the leaders who was a part of the hiring process. I shared my concerns, and told him if they hired him they would lose the church. They didn’t listen, after all what did I know? I wasn’t an intellectual. Long story short, that’s exactly what happened. The sheep were scattered, his true agenda was revealed and they ended up selling the building, the church and ministry was disbanded.

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Being around church stuff, doing church things does not make you a believer or disciple of Christ Jesus, earning a degree in religion does not qualify as a calling to the pastorate; no more than living in a garage makes you a car. If the calling didn’t choose you but you chose it, you’re nothing more than a educated hireling in the pulpit. Preaching the gospel is more than a career, that gift and calling, comes from God alone. Encountering The True and Living God, makes you a believer and a disciple. Disciples who won’t make shipwreck of their lives and others as well. That’s what separates a disciple from a Pharisee. Disciples follow Jesus for the sole purpose of knowing and serving Him. Pharisees follow critiquing and spinning the Word for personal glory.

My wonderful Redeemer and friend! The Friend that sticks closer than any brother. The One in whom there is no deception or changing. You boldly declared “ I AM the Lord! I change not.! I have found you to be true to your Word. Therefore, I confidently rest in the knowledge of who You are. How fortunate I am to be called into your family. Thank you for daily rewarding those who diligently seek You. What a privilege to know and be known, to love and be loved. I appreciate You! Amen

“To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples.” John 8:31

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Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant