What Do You Know? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: September 16, 2018September 25, 2018 by RR7

It doesn’t take long after we’re born to begin gathering knowledge. Is your tummy hungry? Cry and someone will feed you. Smile and the adults around you will smile back. That’s just the beginning of knowledge. Soon the child will learn to read, eat properly, and to discern right from wrong. We gather these bits of knowledge as we move through life. The most important knowledge we can gain is knowledge of God.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction“ (Proverbs 1:7).

The fear of the Lord is something we often ignore. We like His love for us, but too often we think that love means we have the freedom to sin all we want and He will just overlook it. When you fear the Lord, you’ll respect Him and follow His ways. The more you know of Him, the more you’ll respect Him and desire to please Him. You’ll come to understand that God’s laws are for our protection, and following those laws is a wise choice. Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who either feared the Lord or defied Him. We can learn from both examples.

Job was a man who had been blessed with a large family and much wealth. He also feared the Lord and was obedient. That’s why Satan made him a target. Because of Satan, Job lost all of his children, all of his wealth, and his health failed. Then some friends came to sit with him in his misery. They weren’t at all comforting and, in fact, said some awful things to Job. That can happen today.

Every one of us will face tragedy and failing health, but if we study Job we can learn from his troubles. After listening to his friends point out his supposed sin and how he deserved the sorrow he was going through, he indulged in self-pity. That pity party didn’t last long because Job knew God.

When he stopped listening to his friends and began to rely on God, he was able to say, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me“ (Job 19:25-27).

Though Job lived centuries before Jesus walked this earth, he still knew that his Redeemer lived. This knowledge didn’t stop the heartache and health problems he faced, but he still knew his Redeemer. As Job’s story unfolds, we learn that through his struggles he came to know God better than he did prior to the problems.

“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee“ (Job 42:2).

We’ll always get through the trials of life much better if we know our Redeemer lives and that God can do everything.

As we go through life, we’ll face many things that can draw us away from God. Public schools and colleges plant seeds of doubt in young people and those who haven’t been grounded in God’s word; and even some who have will be drawn away. If you know that your Redeemer lives, you won’t be deceived.

Adults often have a double standard of living and live like the world for six days each week, then play church on Sunday. That’s not fearing God; and if you’re only a Sunday Christian, then you really don’t know God.

Many things can get in the way of knowing God if we allow them to. God is always there, but it’s us who can become blind to His glory. When doubts begin to muddle our minds and we question if God is really there, that’s when we need to think about all He has done. Amid all the turmoil in life, we need to keep God in our hearts and our minds. In fact, the Psalmist encourages us to find refuge in the Lord when things are at their worst.

“Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth“ (Psalm 46:10).

When you know God, you’ll know peace in spite of trouble.

Many people have heard of God, but don’t know Him. Try asking your co-workers what they know about Jesus, and the answers may surprise you. Some might say He was a nice man who started a religion, and others may say He is the brother of Satan. If they aren’t born again Christians, they won’t be able to give the right answer – Jesus is God, and He created everything.

When Jesus was ministering on this earth, He met many people. Many of the people just followed Him because they liked His miracles, and the religious leaders had no idea who He was. They didn’t really know Him.

One day He encountered a Samaritan woman. The Samaritans had a mixture of beliefs which were partly Jewish and partly pagan. Although their belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob wasn’t pure, they had some basic knowledge of God. This woman was living a life of sin, but Jesus reached out to her. This woman knew some things about the Messiah, and that knowledge was enough for Jesus to change her life. He didn’t condemn her, but pointed out her sin. She was surprised that He knew that she had been married numerous times, but was not married to the man she was living with.

“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things“ (John 4:25).

If you follow the example of Jesus, you just might help to change someone’s life. Start with what they know about Jesus, then lead them to the truth.

Once your life has been changed by Jesus, you’ll never be the same. You’ll know that you know the truth that Jesus is the Christ. When that happens, nobody will be able to change your mind. You may lose friends, and family may turn against you, but you’ll know the truth. Even religious leaders may try to confound your knowledge of the Living God.

This happened to a man who had been born blind. One day Jesus healed his blindness, but those religious men who despised Jesus questioned this man. Instead of rejoicing over the miracle, they only sought to condemn Jesus. This man knew what Christ had done for him and wouldn’t be influenced by the religious Pharisees who wanted him to deny what Jesus had done.

“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see“ (John 9:25).

If Jesus has removed your blindness to Him and you know that He is the Christ, don’t deny Him. Draw nearer to Him and get to know Him better.

Knowing about Jesus isn’t enough to bring you salvation. You may know who He is and a Scripture or two, but that isn’t what salvation is based upon. Jesus said that there would be false prophets who would spread a false Gospel. Even though they know who He is, they haven’t accepted Him as their Saviour.

“Many will say to me in that day, 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity“ (Matthew 7:22-23).

These false prophets lead many people astray. They haven’t placed their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but use their false faith as a magic wand to do marvelous things. They say the right words in order to impersonate a Christian, but they have no true faith. Their choice will condemn them. The best way to avoid being duped by one of these false prophets is to study Scripture. Know it and write it on your heart. Then when you encounter false teaching, you won’t be turned from the truth.

What does Jesus know about you? He knows a lot more than you might want Him to. He knows whether your faith is real or if you only give Him lip service. A good example of Jesus’ knowledge of ones who were very religious but had no faith is found in almost every conversation He had with the Pharisees. Jesus was God incarnate, but they just wouldn’t believe Him. They loved the power they had over people, but they didn’t love God.

“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you“ (John 5:42).

Jesus knew the truth of their hearts, and He also knows the truth of your heart. He knows if your faith is real or just a show.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:“ (John 10:27).

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and knows who truly follows Him and who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Even among the men who were closest to Him, there was a traitor. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. This betrayal fulfilled Scripture. Judas had the same opportunity as the others to know Jesus, yet he chose betrayal.

“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me“ (John 13:18).

Is this something that Jesus knows about you? Do you pretend to follow Him but are only fooling yourself or others? You haven’t fooled Jesus because He knows.

Even demons know things about you, like if you have authority in Jesus to command them. Scripture tells of some men that the King James translation calls “vagabond Jews.” These Jewish men had seen Paul cast demons out in Jesus’ name and thought they could do the same.

“…We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth” (Acts 19:13b).

They only knew of somebody who knew Jesus, and the demons knew their faith wasn’t real. They didn’t know Jesus and therefore had no authority to use His name.

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?“ (Acts 19:15).

This didn’t end well for those pretenders. The demon attacked them and they ran away “naked and wounded.” Without Jesus you have no protection against evil.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day“ (2 Timothy 1:12).

Do you know whom you have believed? Is that faith real…heart knowledge and not just head knowledge? Salvation comes when you realize that you’re a sinner; and the only way for your sin to be forgiven is through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you don’t know Him, then it’s time you do.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

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Hypocrites! :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: September 9, 2018September 21, 2018 by RR7

We all know about the love of Jesus and His saving grace. Jesus led sinners out of sin and forgave them. We focus on His love and forgiveness, but we forget that He stood strongly against the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees who were the religious leaders of that time. They made a show of religion, but their hearts were far from God. They used their positions of leadership for personal gain and cared nothing about the people.

“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?“ (Matthew 22:18).

Actions speak louder than words, and their actions showed the Pharisees were hypocrites. Is there any hypocrisy within Christianity? The answer is yes. Any Christian who has two standards of living is a hypocrite. The word hypocrite means to act or pretend. If you pretend to be a Christian on Sunday morning but live a worldly life, then ask yourself which life is real? Jesus saw right through the scribes and Pharisees, and He sees right through you.

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in“ (Matthew 23:13).

If you haven’t accepted Christ for salvation, then you’ve chosen to cut yourself off from eternal life no matter how many rites and rituals you follow. If your purported faith in Jesus has not changed your way of life, then you may be like the Pharisees who only used religion for what they could get from it. Only true faith will allow you into Heaven; and if your actions hinder another person from coming to a saving knowledge of Christ, then woe unto you. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation“ (Matthew 23:14).

Christians should never take advantage of anyone. The scribes made sure everyone saw them praying, but they had no problem in taking advantage of those less fortunate, even taking the house of a widow who had little money. We see it today. Television preachers cry for more money to support their million- dollar lifestyles and care nothing for the tenderhearted widows who support them. The less fortunate are the ones who need aid. Jesus had a description of these men. Hypocrites!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves“ (Matthew 23:15).

A proselyte was a Gentile who converted to Judaism; and the scribes and Pharisees were serious about converting people, but then the rites of religion got in the way of faith. Do we see anything like that today?

Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses come to mind. They lead converts to Hell, but they aren’t Christians. Then I thought of the Catholic Church with their Pope and the many rites and rituals they require that aren’t found in Scripture. Salvation isn’t through rites and rituals, but only through faith in Christ. Many people are being led to Hell by believing that rites and rituals will save them.

What about Protestant denominations? Missionaries travel far and wide, but how many actually preach the Gospel? I knew a missionary once who was centered in India and spoke of the dangers he faced. Eventually I learned that his mission wasn’t to bring the lost to Christ, but to bring Christians into his denomination. Hypocrite.

There is an important mission field that’s often overlooked. It’s right in your own neighborhood. How do you represent Christ to the people around you? Like the Pharisees, do you wear your Sunday finest for all to see, so everyone would say “There goes a righteous man”? Then do you berate the waitress who serves you a meal? How about the store clerk who rings up your groceries? If you have the outward appearance of a Christian but your actions speak otherwise, woe unto you. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing: but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

“Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon” (Matthew 23:16-22).

Where’s your allegiance? Are you more interested in pleasing the denomination you’ve joined than with pleasing God? Every denomination has its own set of rules to live by. Some are Biblical and some are just man’s interpretations. God is the authority in a Christian’s life.

I’ve attended various denominations, and they all have their own take of Scripture. Some are very liberal and don’t hold Scripture as authority. Some require works and don’t believe salvation is by faith alone. Some have a list of what they deem as sin, although you have to skew Scripture in order to see their logic. Our allegiance is only to God, and His truth disclosed in Scripture. If you swear an oath to a denomination but haven’t accepted Christ, then you’re pretending to be something you’re not. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel“ (Matthew 23:23-24).

There is no possible way to buy eternal life. The scribes and Pharisees knew the Law and were good at making a show of paying their tithes. Money is important to keeping the lights on in the sanctuary, but God wants your heart. The way you serve Him and represent Him to others is much more necessary. If you pay your dues on Sunday but lie, cheat, and steal on Monday, you’re a hypocrite.

Other people watch you and judge Christianity by your actions. If you show mercy and grace to a non-Christian, you just may open a door for someone to come to salvation. On the other hand, if a fellow Christian sees you openly sinning, they may use your poor example to justify their own sin. Let others see Christ’s light shining in you so that light can lead others to salvation or strengthen a fellow Christian’s walk. Woe unto you if you’re blind to your own sin, but require perfection in others. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisees, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may be clean also“ (Matthew 23:25-26).

Is Jesus talking about washing dishes? No. A person may look good on the outside, but inside may be very dirty. Outward appearance is a show for others, but God looks inside to the heart. Lately we’ve heard about the Catholic priests who’ve been sexually abusing young boys. They wear fancy robes and give the appearance of being very holy, but inside they’re ruled by Satan.

You can point fingers and shake your head, but what about you? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to search your heart to reveal your hidden sins? No matter how long you’ve been a Christian, there are always sins that you need to be forgiven of. A little white lie can be a big problem in your walk with Jesus. A little peek at pornography is still a major sin. Woe unto you if you look good on the outside, but allow the ugliness of sin to rule your heart. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity“ (Matthew 23:27-28).

It was the practice of those times to whitewash tombs around Jerusalem prior to Passover so that nobody would touch one by mistake, making them ceremonially unclean. The whitewash did nothing to change what was inside the tomb. When a person accepts Christ for salvation, there should be evidence of change on the outside, but there also needs to be change on the inside.

Prior to salvation we were dead. Death of the mortal body meant eternal death and separation from God. When you accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, your sins were forgiven and the dead soul contained inside you was given eternal life. If you claim Jesus for salvation but don’t really mean it then you’re like the whitewashed tombs of old. You might look good to others, but God knows the truth.

No matter how much whitewash is put on the tomb through good works, you’ll remain dead inside unless you understand that you’re a sinner and only the grace of God through Christ can give you eternal life. If you’re living a lie, then you’re still lost. Hypocrite!

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say if we had been in the days of our fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets“ (Matthew 23:29-30).

They wouldn’t have killed the prophets? Really? What did they do to Jesus? They had Him murdered. They didn’t believe Him and they persecuted Him. Today we do the same thing to Him. Are you sure you wouldn’t have been in the crowd saying “Crucify Him” or hiding with Peter as Jesus hung on the cross? Many people are convinced they’re Christians but pray to Mary or some other so-called saint with magical powers as deemed by the Pope. Still others look to seers to contact a dead loved one for guidance. In doing so we deny Christ. If you’re a Christian, this is forbidden. Hypocrite!

In this discourse, Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious Jewish men who lived by double standards. Christians should learn from this and not be hypocrites. Our faith should govern our life and show through our actions. Christianity isn’t a rule book, but the Bible is our guide to the way we are to live.

It’s easy to be a “good Christian” while sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, but the truth of our faith shows in our behavior when we step outside into the world. How do you represent Christ at the grocery store or while driving on the freeway? Do you change from a smiling, kindhearted child of God and into another personality once you’re away from your fellow Christians?

A Pharisee once asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

If you love God, then you’ll honor Him through your actions and words. If you love God, you’ll care about others and not berate them or abuse them. If your profession of faith wasn’t an honest profession, then you’ll forever be a hypocrite.

Look at your own life and see if any of these behavior patterns rule you. You can’t change others, but you can allow God to change you. Don’t be a hypocrite.