Pastor Laban
Teens' Church Pastor, Fedha Church, Kenya Assemblies of God
We cannot impress God hata you fast (even if you fast for) 9 years. Our righteousness is like a filthy rag
Isaiah 64:6.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
A quote from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, meaning that simply following the letter of the law is not enough. It requires a deeper, inner righteousness that goes beyond outward compliance to include a transformed heart, motivated by faith and love for God and others. This means your actions must stem from a pure heart, not just a desire to follow rules for the sake of appearance.
The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the law, but Jesus taught that true righteousness comes from the heart, not just external actions.
Jesus criticised this practice when done for show. According to Jesus' teachings in the Gospels, some Pharisees prayed loudly in synagogues and on street corners specifically to be seen by others, which he condemned as hypocrisy.
Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5 is a verse in the Bible where Jesus instructs his followers not to pray like hypocrites who want to be seen by others. Instead, he advises them to go into their private rooms, close the door, and pray to their Father in secret, who sees what is done in secret. The verse explains that the hypocrites are only seeking recognition from people and have already received their reward for doing so.
We need to desist from false spirituality.
Philippians 3:5-6:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Paul lists his impressive Jewish credentials.
Impressive Jewish credentials, including being "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless."
We live in an era of materialism and thus we value what people have rather then who they are.
That's why show off is the game of the day.
1 Corinthians 1:31, stating, "Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord'".
It advises against pride in human achievements like wisdom, strength, or wealth, and instead encourages boasting in the knowledge of God, specifically in his "loving devotion, justice, and righteousness.
Our pride should be in the Lord.
Our relationship with God is the most valuable thing because God is the most important gain in our life.
Jeremiah brings this point home.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 which says, "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."
Comments
Post a Comment