by David Brenneman
"After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Mark 7:14-23.
Have seen, have experienced, have known the truth of something being right before my eyes and still haven't been able to see.
Have seen this in others as well. From what and how Jesus speaks to this to these people...it's a heart condition as to seeing, hearing and understanding what our eyes perceive.
Trickery is at the heart or near the heart of what Satan's schemes are rooted in. To alter in even the subtlest of ways to get either a Believer off track or to turn an unbelieving person away from God's truth.
To get people to define words and actions is to create the essence of a culture and to get them to adhere to it willingly is to cause it to grow and have a direction.
Look again at the list of things that Jesus said are from the heart.
At some point in the lives of everyone whom the Bible says is accountable before Jesus...everyone is guilty of one or more of these: evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
We don't take seriously that this world isn't our home and "go native" in doing our best to fit in. Adopting what the world says as our own and do not see that it's not helping our walk with Jesus.
We are easily blinded by words, thoughts and feelings of others. We get presented with worldly desires that are essentially gift wrapped to cause us to embrace them.
We don't see the truth of God because we're too fixated on the bling of the world as Satan's schemes have been creating it in his image.
Satan's been working within the confines of the word of God in every way imaginable to try to still take the throne of God from God.
He plays no favorites short of whom he has ready as his Antichrist and his false prophet. He isn't interested in anyone's peace and safety. Cares not who's lost to the fires of Hell. Has people convinced that he rules from Hell as well.
There's a Spiritual War that's been going on here on Earth and in the Heavenly places as the Scriptures teach us.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.
We're in the thick of battle over the souls of the world and people everywhere are being seduced by Satan to believe this is Disneyland.
The world wants people to join them in their unabashed drive towards things, thoughts and feelings that aren't found in Christ.
We just as capable of justifying our thoughts and feelings just as the Pharisees and Sadducees did.
We are capable if we aren't careful.
Look at how you dress for the day. Is it God honoring or is it laced with ideologies of the world? Is there thought to modesty or carefree with regards to looks? Are we wearing symbols of idolatry or are we presenting an image of Christ to the world? Do we participate in events that cause us to intimidate people towards things and activities contrary to what we know God's Word says? Look again at that list.
Are you at all attempting to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus?
Would you even recognize whether you are taking the glory due only to Jesus and were placing it with other people, places or things?
The Spirit will teach you all things but you must choose to accept them and to live accordingly if you are indeed in Christ.
To be blunt...many millions of people calling themselves Christians are just as much an enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ as any unbelieving person on the planet. The Pharisees are among many churches in this world. Teaching just as they did their ideas on living an acceptable life that is truly contrary to the Word of God.
The blind leading the blind...and as the Scriptures say...both will fall into the pit.
Ask the Spirit to open up your eyes to have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Jesus: "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
It's sadly taken me this long in life to realize much of this. That in some ways I squeezed my spiritual eyes closed because the truth would hurt if I opened them.
We came to Christ for salvation. We were offered the full life if we would obey the Word of God after doing so.
We need to fight the good fight as Paul wrote. We have the whole armor of God yet we get convinced to take parts off.
Satan's schemes concerning mankind aren't new. He knows what works to bring out the worst in people and and all the while get them to enjoy it.
We cannot blindly go through this life. We need working spiritual eyes and a heart that follows after our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? He or she who wishes to follow Jesus must take up their own cross and follow Him.
Really really think about that...Jesus said MUST take up. In the Gospel accounts we read of Simon of Cyrene being pressed into service to help carry Jesus's cross to where He was crucified. The Roman soldiers did this and it wasn't optional for Simon. He wasn't permitted to put it down. They didn't care where he was going or why. It will be interesting to see if this Simon came to Christ for salvation after these things.
Have you ever prayed for yourself to have eyes to see and ears to hear? Over and over again Jesus looked for people who did. In the last book of the Bible...after every letter to the Churches...those who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
We get told in the court of law that ignorance of the law is not acceptable. A simple search shows this: "In law, ignorantia juris non excusat (Latin for "ignorance of the law excuses not"), or ignorantia legis neminem excusat ("ignorance of law excuses no one"), is a legal principle holding that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely by being unaware of its content."
We will all be without excuse before Jesus.
Jesus is coming back. Are we living life in such a way that shows ourselves and the world that we believe this?
Would you dare to ask the Spirit to show you the truth about you? To show you through His eyes what all areas you've compromised life in?
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2.
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.
Think about what you say before you berate people and laugh about it and justify it by saying "it's all in fun! I didn't mean it that way!" What are you testifying about what's coming out of your heart?
Think about what you're dressed like when you step out into the world. Is it showing a love for Christ or a love for the things of this world?
Open your spiritual eyes.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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