Worship Call 0707 A higher STandard

This is Thursday the eleventh day of August in the two thousand twenty second day of our Lord.

this is From George Whitten of WorthyNews.com

Friends, holiness from the inside out! 1 Peter 2:5,9 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) have all been inducted into a priesthood by the new birth, a New Covenant priesthood established by the Lord Himself, in the order of Melchizidek [Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:11]. While the Old Testament Levitical priesthood was limited exclusively to the sons of Aaron, all New Testament believers in Messiah are called a "Royal priesthood" [1 Peter 2:5; 2:9]. Exodus 28 describes the exquisite beauty of the holy clothing to be worn by Aaron and his sons. Anyone beholding these men in full priestly dress would be struck with wonder and admiration at the beauty and significance of this majestic, bejeweled array of garments. The impression created by the Levitical priests and their sacred adornment could be likened to the New Covenant believer's outward appearance, which should also be obvious to others; the beauty of good works, tenderheartedness, joyful countenance, etc. Yet there is another parallel, perhaps even more important: when dressing himself for his priestly ministry, the Levitical High Priest actually begins by donning his linen undergarments. These, of course, are invisible to others, yet are the garments closest to his body, and could be likened to his invisible inner life. Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount speaks to this invisible area of human nature and its propensity to sin. We may appear quite religious and lovely outwardly, impressing others with cultivated behavior, and good deeds, while our "undergarments" are soiled and anything but holy. But, of course, the undergarments of the High Priest were also required to be holy, even though no one would ever see them. Robert, your outer life and behavior will reveal a great deal about you, as your face and actions reflect your heart, character, and values. But the source of all that is visible in your life must correspond to that which is hidden...your "spiritual undergarments"; i.e. your inner life with the Lord. The holiness of God should permeate every facet of our lives, so what we walk out in public flows from our private communion with Him Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, & Obadiah (Elianna is attending Christian College in Dallas) Dallas, Texas

And this is another fine day in the Lord

Matthew 5:19 (NASB95) — 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The Gospel message does not stop with the fact that you are saved from the pits of hell and that you are going to heaven.

Should the fact that Moses, who was probably the greatest of all Old Testament Saints, himself lost out on that which he strived and longed for? That is the promised land.

Moses was not condemned to eternal lake of fire. He did not suffer as the Richman did being condemned to Torments (Luke 16:19-31) But Because of His failure Moses suffered Loss.

Yes, I believe that the Gospel, the good news, includes the fact that Jesus Christ provides eternal life for anyone that trusts in Him for it. Of course, but I stand on the fact that the Gospel is much more. Much, much more for those who Love the Lord.

Those who through faith, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ will not perish but have eternal life. But does that include the entire package which is our inheritance? If our faithing stops at the cross and we have no faith in all that God has prepared for us by way of inheritance, could it mean that we lose out as did Moses?

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NASB95) — 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

2 Timothy 4:8 (NASB95) — 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Gospel is God’s Comprehensive plan to bring about all that He had purposed from the beginning. The Gospel is the good news that includes the full destruction of evil and bringing many sons into glory.

Oh, it is great and wonderful news that we have an inheritance. But there is much in scripture that leads me to believe that just as we have received eternal life through faith, there is much we can miss out on for a Lack of faith after the cross.

Numbers 20:12 (NASB95) — 12 But the Lordsaid to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Because you did not AMAN me. Because you did not accredit me with the truth standing upon my very character of veracity, You will not enter into the promised land.

Moses treated as worthless God’s commandment and lost big. For the one who is to minister God’s word and don’t, scripture affirms will lose and lose big. The one who hears God’s word and treats is with no value and does not orient to the authority of it, will lose and lose big even while one may be bragging about going to heaven.

Matthew 5:19 (NASB95) — 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

ποιέω (poieō). vb. to make, do. Describes the act of making, producing, or creating.[1]

To keep is to do, to put into practice the things that you have learned. To be a practitioner of Gods word and not hearers only.

And teachers them

33.224 διδάσκω; διδαχήa, ῆς f; διδασκαλίαa, ας f: to provide instruction in a formal or informal setting—‘to teach, teaching.’[2]

No, this is not just for the pastor’s edification. But this includes you too. It is the body of Christ that is to go out and make disciples.

Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95) — 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

You might argue that Jesus is speaking to his Apostles. but no, the great commission is for the body of believers

Hebrews 5:12–14 (NASB95) — 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

So it is that we are to be hearers of God’s word, Doers of God’s word and teachers of God’s word.

Ok, I hear you.

“What if I am not a gifted teacher!”

Maybe not. If you are a student of God’s word you have God’s word in your heart. And if you do have God’s word in your heart you have something to share with others especially when they ask for the hope that is found in you.

So, if Teaching makes you a little skittish, replace it with “Sharing.” And by the way, as you are sharing the gospel you might find yourself in that teaching role as the one whom you are leading to Christ may have a lot of question on the way and then after the cross.

Want to please God with your faith, then Share your faith.

This has throughout history had become a threat to religious leaders who sought to hold onto power and authority by keeping God’s word from others. Many were persecuted an put to death for no other reason than sharing the truth that religious leaders did not at the time want in the hands of common folks.

Here’s where the Scribes and Pharisees enter the conversation.

Matthew 5:20 (NASB95) — 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The religious leaders as many today had carved themselves a comfortable living while at the same time putting on a pious front. They may have themselves believed that they were God’s gift to the people.

All the while they were adulterous, and extortionist and in fact outside of the people’s notice were actually more vile than the so called sinners to include Tax collectors.

The Pharisees were the hyper legalist. They were the Law in the way that they policed the Jewish society to ensure they stayed within the boundaries of the Law. 70 of the top ranking were known as the Sanhedrin that held trails against those who violated the Law.

Among their own sin against God, they had themselves added to God’s Commandments in that they placed a fence around the pure and simple commands of God, creating a dictatorial and oppressive rule over the people. Much was said about Jesus breaking the Sabbath law, but in reality, Jesus did not break his own law of the Sabbath rest. He did not hold himself accountable to the Pharisees.

It does not seem that the people hated the Pharisees. In fact, like many who fall for the TV preachers and Charlatans who call themselves preachers, many are fooled by their godly demeaner.

Jesus Called them whitewashed tombstones.

Matthew 23:27–36 (NASB95) — 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 “So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 “Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? 34 “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jesus is Light. It was Jesus that shed the light on these crooked sect, that people admired for their show of Righteousness.

But Jesus warns his disciples upon this mount

Matthew 5:20 (NASB95) — 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Thus far many probably thought that they could never reach the spiritual level of the Pharisees but Jesus is beginning to expose, as did his Cousin, John, the very nature of this religious group.

Reaching the level of piety of the Pharisees would indeed leave one without eternal life and without receiving the inheritance of the Kingdom of heaven.

Being comfortable with the level of piety that was displayed by the Pharisees one better be comfortable with residing with them in Hell.

[1]Peach, M. E. (2014). Creation. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press. [2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 412). United Bible Societies.