Ears To Hear

Friday, January 16, 2009


Matthew 15:8-9
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The interesting point in this portion of Scripture is that there were people speaking seemingly the right things in spiritual matters and gathering to worship Jesus. Yes that’s right, they worshipped Jesus, yet Jesus said they worshipped Him in vain. It was no more than something they did to only make "themselves" feel better about "themselves". At another place, Jesus tells others (John 5:39-40) who loved searching the scriptures (those who have a verse to quote for every situation) that they thought they had found eternal life in them, but they did not even know the scriptures were about JESUS.

We remain in bible days today with exactly the same scenario as was in the days of Jesus walking the earth. I would hate to know that I could be in the Word daily and be worshipping Jesus daily and with much sincerity, yet be sincerely doing it all in vain according to Him. What would cause all we do to be in vain? Matthew 15:8 reveals the answer. “Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” Don’t be deceived, men and the devil use the Word of God to make their own religious rules. Jesus calls them commandments of men. They are such as “you have to do…” This includes all doctrines that men teach can help him outside of what Christ did at Calvary. Please never forget that what Jesus did at Calvary IS WHO HE IS. Whenever we teach or sit under teaching that requires us to do anything other than to believe that what Christ did at the cross was sufficient for all of our needs, and I mean ALL, we worship in vain.

The Lord is pleading with His people to return to their first love. It is the place you first loved Him... At the cross!!!
Good respectable people in this community tried to speak on God’s behalf giving me council against starting CrossWay Church, but the Lord continued to lay on my heart that though there are eighty to ninety churches in this community, “almost none are preaching my gospel”. God’s gospel is Christ and Him crucified. We are seeing many come out of places of VAIN WORSHIP and brought back to a true relationship with the Lord. But know this, it will take for you what it took for me and all the others. It will take you being willing to put Jesus back on the throne of your heart which will result in you coming out from among them who refuse to.

1 comment:

Pastor Terry said...

Amen, brother! Great post! Keep preaching Christ and Him crucified!

Blessings,
Terry Michaels
'The preacher who hates religion and loves God'
www.strategicbookpublishing.com/ThatIMayKnowYou.html