ttob14

The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Fourteen: by turtle

Have you ever listened to a good teacher teach and felt the need to ask a few things, if what they taught applied individually or to
the group. When one reads scripture one must apply scripture both individually as well as to the whole world. When Christ
began to teach in Matthew 12 He was speaking to the hypocrites. What is hypocrisy? Webster 1828 dictionary defines hypocrisy
this way.

HYPOC'RISY, n. [L. hypocrisis; Gr. simulation; to feign; to separate, discern or judge.]

1. Simulation; a feigning to be what one is not; or dissimulation, a concealment of one's real character or motives. More
generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good
character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion.

Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 12.

2. Simulation; deceitful appearance; false pretence.

Hypocrisy is the necessary burden of villainy. Define by Webster.

Hypocrisy is telling that child he can not have a candy bar and eating it yourself. Or saying cigarettes are bad for you but
smoking them yourself. Most people are hypocrites about something. Very few people have no hypocrisy. It is like saying let
smokers have their rights and standing and saying I am against smokers rights. It sounds hypocritical, but in reality it is
recognizing one right to make their own choice and you deciding it is not right for you so thus being against it. It saying if I see a
smoking walking down the street and he passes out I will stop and call 911 for him. Yet the hypocrisy is not in the calling but if I
would turn around and say I wish he were dead because he a smoker and turn around and say maybe he will get saved and stop
smoking. What are people doing? It is lunacy, people give off so many mixed signals on issues of smokers, legalism in the church
and hypocrisy concerning emotionalism in the church that no one knows how to think feel, or breath the right code of conduct.
What they understand there is a problem and the problem is called sin of hypercritical nature. We want our cake in the lives of
others but we don’t want to them to taste the sweetness of those calories that causes them to gain weight of sin of gluttony.
However spiritual hypocrisy is different. Jesus begins to talk about hypocrisy and Peter begins to wonder who Jesus was
directing his speech too. Have you ever listen to someone ramble that had nothing to do with you personally or perhaps you did
but it was so metaphoric you missed it. Well as we examine Luke 12 we get the impression of a long sermon with much meat in
it. Yet the reaction of those listening are important to understanding how we often react to the things of God.

Luke 12:1-41
(1) In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one
upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
(2) For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
(3) Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in
closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
(4) And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
(5) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto
you, Fear him.
(6) Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
(7) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(8) Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of
God:
(9) But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
(10) And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against
the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
(11) And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye
shall answer, or what ye shall say:
(12) For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
(13) And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
(14) And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
(15) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth.
(16) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
(17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
(18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
(19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
(20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which
thou hast provided?
(21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(22) And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the
body, what ye shall put on.
(23) The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
(24) Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how
much more are ye better than the fowls?
(25) And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
(26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
(27) Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
(28) If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he
clothe you, O ye of little faith?
(29) And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
(30) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
(31) But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
(33) Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
(34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(35) Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
(36) And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and
knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
(37) Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
(38) And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
(39) And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and
not have suffered his house to be broken through.
(40) Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
(41) Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

However often one waste other person time, desiring their opinion. Hoping for someone to side that they are right. A man ask
Jesus decide between his brother and him about worldly positions. Jesus is not concern about worldly positions as much as our
spiritual health and our basic needs of survival. God knows what we need before we ask it. He knows are needs and cares where
we will spend eternity heaven or hell. This war between what we have and have not or what so and so have makes little
difference to Him. The furthering of love matters to God. The matter of sharing His love matters to God so much that he
instructs us not to worry about what we are going to say when we stand before the law, by His Spirit He will provide for us. Part
of serving God is allowing God to provide. Not to worry about what we will eat or drink or how we will get by. God provision is
not about not knowing our needs, but providing our needs for His work. I often wonder why a Baptist missionary named Lottie
Moon land up starving to death and dying if she was doing the work of the Lord. She gave her rice in the time of famine in
China to the children. Her journey hope by ship and being half starved and ill she passed away. I have to remember two things
this woman was old, the journey long and something more, her compassion out weighed the provision, no of course not. It was
her time to go and those left behind would need what she offered. If God provided for Elijah in the time of famine, I believe God
provides for us. However it does not mean we do without, or that our bodies suffer. Elijah went to Mount Horeb, and on his
journey he stop and ate enough for forty days. God’s provision is not always rationalized by man. However the power of God is
something in comprehendible to human mind. Yet Christ speaks of provision from God as long as we follow him in obedience
and respect. We can not blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

We make errors of his word, but not errors concerning the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves in us to obedience of the truth of
God’s word, seals us for the day of salvation. The refusal to respect the Holy Spirit power, and works is to deny the power of
God. To deny God’s ability, to deny who God is. To deny God to not believe in God. Yet to not believe is not the same as not
being not to be saved. Why there are several thresholds of ignorance verses understanding and comprehension of what one does
and says. If you did not know something you can not be charged for a lack of knowledge but it will fail you on a test. The man
seeking information about treasures of inheritance was more concerned with earthly positions and not the things Christ had to
say concerning provision by God. God provision on earth is not about inheritance, though we will receive our inheritance when
we reach heavens door if we believe.

Provision of God is not about material possessions. Nothing wrong with having things. Yet these things should not control you.
How many people could go without a cell phone, or Ipod, or a computer. Are these things more important to us then God. If you
use these things for ministry they can be life saver, but they are not the Life Saver. If you use these tools for gossip, to cause
harm, to injure, to maim someone else then you seeking not the things of God. Our possessions of any kind can cause us harm.
We can store up stuff and pass a starving person or a person in need on the street but never offer assistance and yet go and buy
a priceless diamond, then we are making and error. We are storing then up those things for what? We can not take diamonds,
jewelry, or wealth with us when we die. We may of fruit of our labor, but no fruit of love. If God requires our soul what will
say, our possession are on earth. Would it not be much more better to have fruit of our labor in heaven with us by seeing those
saved by God grace, because of the compassion we ourselves showed.

Peter ask is what you speak Lord for us or for someone else. Christ is speaking to the world about the spiritual life and the value
of earthly possessions. Christ continues speaking on this issue.

Luke 12:42-59
(42) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give
them their portion of meat in due season?
(43) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(44) Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
(45) But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens,
and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
(46) The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut
him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
(47) And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten
with many stripes.
(48) But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever
much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
(49) I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
(50) But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
(51) Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
(52) For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
(53) The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the
daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
(54) And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and
so it is.
(55) And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
(56) Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
(57) Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
(58) When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered
from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
(59) I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

What God gives us to use for His glory much is required of us. If we have little to use, we still need to use what we have for His
glory. If God has forgiven our sins then we need to forgive others in like manner. We need to be careful not to judge as the
hypocrites do against evil for we will be judged in like manner. We need to be careful how we judge, and what measuring tools
we use to base our judgment. Yet we can be assured that Christ who judges all of us, measures the same way, whether we
believe or not. Whether we have faith and then if we lived by what we believed. Hopefully our life will line up with our faith and
when it does not hopefully by the mercy and grace of God, He will warn us of our hypocrisy so we can change by the power of
the Holy Spirit.

There is much more I could type today about end times, but I feel there is so much hypocrisy with the predictions of end times
today, based on the fact of how thing rise and fall in the world that many false preachers claim we are in last days, yet fail to
mention those are Christ words. He was speaking of sitting of sitting himself at the right hand of the Father, yet knowing we
would also be with Him in glory one day. Yet his return is known by no man, but only God the Father. Why because man can
not handle knowing the hour, for they would procrastinate what they could do until the appointed time. If you knew when you
would die, would you not give away all you have. Many cancer patience prepare for their death knowing that if they do not
survive their worldly possessions will go to help someone else. Consider how these things divide families as well as friends. Yet
none can weigh your heart but God. Illnesses either make you stingy or more giving in life. Many are weighed down by the
burden of sin of the me generation. You can not change yourself, but you can allow God to change who you are for His glory
through receiving His free gift of salvation Jesus Christ. Receiving a gift that sounds wonderful. Another possession, no another
friend that not only loves you unconditionally, but desires to bring the best out of the heart you have to care for others. All
people are evil, but it is through God love we are able to return that love.