Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday October 7, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Matthew, please read chapters 15-17 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-7

Today's Message: His Plan, His Purpose
When we submit ourselves for God's use, our lives will be filled with His plans and His purpose.

Many churches speak so religiously of God with their mouths and lips, but their ears and minds are far from knowing what the Word of God actually says. Oh, they read a few verses in Scripture, but their hearts are as hard as a rock, as far as showing any love to God. “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” - Matthew 15:1-3. What is disturbing to these scribes and Pharisees is that Jesus' disciples did not follow the traditions of men. This washing ritual was not just a matter of getting your hands clean before you pick up your bread, but it was a created ritual that these elders made up and attached God's name to the form of it. The ritual was not given by God, or any of the prophets of God.

When Jesus teaches, He shows men the deceitfulness and wickedness of their own hearts and teaches them to humble themselves and seek to be cleansed from all sin and uncleanness. Therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, really knows deep down that they are not living by the true Word of God. His disciples ask to be better taught about this matter. “And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” - Matthew 15:10-20. Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their hearts. It is the heart that is desperately wicked, for there is no sin in word or deed which was not first in the heart. They all come out of the man and are fruits of that wickedness which is in the heart.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees are two different groups of the Jews. The Pharisees believed their was a God, where as the Sadducees did not. These two groups had witnessed the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand, they had seen the healing of many, as well as many other miracles, yet still they asked for a sign. “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” - Matthew 16:1-4. The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct, yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing because they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we ignore the signs of God's ordaining to seek for signs of our own devising.

One who does not submit himself to Christ makes a god of himself and lives for only himself. To take care of self is the driving principle of the natural man, but to submit self to the will of God is the first principle of the spiritual life! Self-denial is fundamental to confessing Christ before men. Submitting to Christ signifies a genuine acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord and Savior and a denial of self from worldly lusts. Furthermore, it means to place no dependence in one's own goodness and good works for justification before God, but to rely by faith on Christ alone and in His death on the cross for our sins. When we truly recognize that Christ is Lord and Savior, nothing is considered too much of a sacrifice for Jesus' sake, and we feel surprised when someone speaks of how much it costs to be a Christian. Christ, by His Spirit, has taken the place of self in order that His love may flow through us.
Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.

God Bless You,
Christina

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