Intro
This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.
Discussion
Why.
I have started to use this word more. Why? Because I keep encountering those that profess to being follower of Jesus Christ and that they follow His teachings. Yet, when confronted with things that go counter to how they do things. These people obfuscate, they argue, they complain.
Now you have to further understand the reason I am using the word “why” more. You see I use the Word of God. Most times I use the Word’s spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. Yet, people argue and say this is not so. This is not right. They say things like this when the Bible shows what they have been doing and what they have been taught cannot be found in the Scriptures.
Case in point. How we are to pray.
Frist:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV – pray without ceasing,
Second:
Matthew 6:5-8 NKJV – “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Simply we are to pray constantly, but we are to not let others know we are doing so. Those that pray at restaurants, those that pray openly for all to see or even read, per Jesus Christ have been given their rewards.
People get incensed by this. They say this only applies to those that are hypocrites. Not understanding that if they insist upon praying for all to see they become hypocrites per the Words spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. When someone challenges the Words spoken by Christ Himself, they say they know better than Him, they know better than God.
I wish to look at the word “hypocrite.”
hypocrite – hupokrités – dissembler, pretender
a) dissembler – someone who hides their real feelings or intentions, or hides the true facts.
When someone disagrees with a direct command given by Jesus Christ, they are hiding the true facts. Not only from other, but from themselves and so they become a hypocrite.
As to our example I used earlier from the sermon on the mount. I will restate it, however first I will show something else Christ said.
John 14:15 NKJV – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Now when giving the sermon on the mount there are several times Jesus gives out commandments that He has stated we are to follow. How we are to pray is one of them. Therefore, once again I will restate it:
Matthew 6:5-15 NKJV – “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
You can tell by the wording this is a commandment. Yet people challenge this. Once again, I return to the word of the day. Why?
Because they have been taught otherwise, they have been told they can spread the knowledge of God by praying in public. Making a show of their belief. Yet Jesus Christ made it clear. They have been given their reward, which shows it is earthly not heavenly.
If they really sought after rewards that were promised by God they would make their continual prayers in their heads and behind closed doors. They would work within the perimeters directed by our Lord and Savior and not question or challenge it just because what they have been taught does not follow what has been commanded by Him.
Why?
Because once they challenge it they show disobedience to God. They show who they are obedient too. Jesus ran into this same mentality when He walked amongst us, and how did He reply to this:
John 8:39-47 NKJV They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Again, people will challenge this. Why? because this was not them. It was the Jewish people living in disobedience. However, there is one thing I have learned. That any who challenge the Truth given by Christ become those that do not see who He truly is. They become blind to the Truth and so they become the follows of the father of all lies. Right now someone just got upset by what was just stated here. I will remind them of what the Bible says about that type of reaction.
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV – Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Does their reaction not appear as hatred of the Truth? Are they not showing contention with the Word of God? Have they not reacted in an outburst of wrath? Do they not to seek to distance themselves from this message causing dissension within them? Then they are acting from the flesh and following he who governs the flesh opening the door to them not being welcomed in the kingdom of God. Thus, verifying all that has been stated here.
So, it has been established by what has been shown in this podcast as to the reason I have started this lesson with the word “why.”
Now, we can turn to the word “what.”
What can we do to address these issues?
First off people must come to an acceptance that they can be doing things that are seen a wrong in the eyes of God through His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. They can do this by actually studying the Bible for themselves. When people allow others to tell them what the Bible says that is the open door to false teachings. I have said it more than once. I will say it again. Do not take my word for it. Learn it yourself. Always verify.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NKJV – Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Anything that does not fall in-line with the Word of God is evil it is just that simple. That is why it is so important to know the Bible for ourselves. That is why when people decide to not follow the Word because of tradition is equal to following false teachings. Taking the doctrines of humans over the Truth of God.
Matthew 15:1-9 NKJV – Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ “
Yes, Christ was speaking to the Pharisees and scribes, but the mentality that existed when Christ walked amongst us has now come to those that profess to being “Christian” at this very time. Those Words spoken by Him then now apply to most that profess to follow Him now, however they have abandoned or more accurately never learned the Truth.
Haven’t people noticed how many denominations have appeared in the last three hundred years including many cults that also sprang into existence in the 1830s and 40s. Not counting the cults. How many actually follow the Truth within the Bible?
Do you know that only 2% of today’s churches within the United States actually teach the Truth. Actually teaching the need for repentance. That actually teach what is required to take the journey of the narrow and difficult path. Only 2%. That means the other 98% teach evil, under the façade of Christianity, for they are not in line with the Word of God. This is all part of the great deception. The deception that tells them they can keep their wealth and their fancy lifestyle. While all the time they are one with God, when this is the furthest thing from the Truth. They have abandoned Christ for their own wants and desire which does not come from God as shown in 1 John 2:15-16. This verifies what I am saying is the Truth. Yet most don’t want to hear this. They wish to live in their lie not realizing they listen to and worship the father of all lies.
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Think and ponder what has been said today.
God Bless