Summary of the preaching
Sunday, February 11, 2024 – Mrs. Pastor BILLEY.
Matthew 3
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
After the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, and when Solomon’s son Rehoboam died, the kingdom was divided in two: the South (Judah and Jerusalem) and the North (with Samaria as its capital).
When the people disobeyed the Lord by indulging in idols and polluting the land God had given them, then the Lord allowed Babylon to take them away in deportation.
After seventy years, the Lord allowed him to return to the time of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah…
As a result, they returned with the zeal of God and sought the face of the Lord.
It was then that they rebuilt a second temple, the first having been looted and destroyed.
People were needed to make sacrifices. They needed leaders, because they had to make sure they followed God’s instructions.
This led to the creation of several religious groups, including the Sadducees and Pharisees.
The Sadducees didn’t believe in heaven, life after death or resurrection. However, the Pharisees believed in life after death, but not in the resurrection.
So in the time of John the Baptist, when he called for repentance. These two groups also presented themselves.
There was a spirit that animated these people. And as children of God we must be alert to these things.
These Pharisees and Sadducees hadn’t come to be baptized – they’d been baptized.
Which is why, when they showed up – Jean-Baptiste shouted “Races of vipers”.
Indeed, they were curious to see who John was, as he had not come from any of their religious groups.
They came to watch him, looking for loopholes to sabotage and prevent the truth from being known to all.
** It‘s a spirit of surveillance/espionage – preventing people from entering into the knowledge of truth.
The Pharisees prevented people from entering into the knowledge of God by training the person not to do God’s will.
If you accept what they say, you’ll get out of God’s way.
They were the strictest of the religious groups – it was from this group that the apostle Paul came out.
Why are they called viper breeds? For their teachings are venom, poison.
They emphasize personal justice.
And they’re so full of themselves, they make laws, rules by themselves for other people to follow, but not them.
**It’s a spirit of intimidation.
He pushes the Christian to fear in order to make him act or say what is contrary to God.
Let’s remember the blind man born in John 9 – they threaten you to such an extent that if you don’t give in, they drive you out of the synagogue.
John 9. 22
His parents said this because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that, if anyone recognized Jesus as the Christ, he would be excluded from the synagogue.
They questioned them several times with the aim of getting them to reject Jesus.
** It’s a spirit of criticism.
The Pharisees are full of criticism and judgment. Since they knew the law – they thought they knew everything.
And today there are people who think they know everything about our Lord Jesus.
This type of person is difficult to evangelize.
And even in our assemblies, the spirit of the Pharisees and Sadducees fills people.
It’s a critical spirit that focuses on things that are not essential.
This spirit is dangerous; it prevents us from having the heart we need to receive the word.
They make a mountain out of a molehill, believing, for example, that washing their hands will purify them.
This spirit blinds and leads the Christian to follow human precepts instead of God’s precepts. They push people to live according to the flesh.
Beloved, when we come to church, we must open our hearts and not come with a spirit of criticism.
It’s an attitude that stands in the way of entry into heaven.
Matthew 23.13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you let in those who wish to enter.
Notice that despite the fact that Jesus healed all the sick who came to him; However, the Pharisees didn’t take anyone. Incessantly, they spied on him to push him into error.
** It’s a spirit of pride – thinking it knows everything and declaring things.
But yet does not practice the word of God.
We have people who write on social networks, for example – I am the Son of the Most High God, yet they are adulterers, fornicators, thieves…
Where are the fruits that prove they belong to Jesus?
Jean said in:
Matthew 3.8 Produce fruit worthy of repentance.
This means they were pretending to be repentant. The Christian life is not a life of appearances.
This mind focuses on the outside, yet Christ’s righteousness transforms from the inside.
If you don’t truly repent, the Holy Spirit can’t work in your life. Then even your decisions won’t stand up.
But in principle, the fruit of true conversion is visible – the person must have changed.
Most of the time, the reason we came to the Lord was because he could help us then we tasted his love and stayed.
Others, on the other hand, when the problem is solved, continue to live a life of sin or leave and return to the world.
The Lord’s love is not rooted in them.
If we say we are children of God, we must live the life of Christ.
John3. 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
When I convert, I surrender all my rights to the Lord Jesus – this allows me to be regenerated.
** It’s a spirit of perdition.
The Pharisees put the emphasis on outward appearance.
They think they’re going to heaven – they don’t question themselves and believe that everything they do is right. This attitude does not come from Christ.
Mat 5.20
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
God is not going to change his principles. It’s up to you to change, to let yourself be transformed and to follow God’s principles.
This spirit will make you think you’re already at the top.
So, there are people who come to church, but don’t change.
And what’s more, there are people who claim that when you’re saved, it’s forever.
It’s not true, it’s a lie from hell – you can lose your salvation.
And Paul, says, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2.12)
Matthew 3.9 and do not pretend to say to yourselves: We have Abraham for our father! For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
So, even if you have the assurance of your salvation – every day should be an opportunity to work on not losing your salvation.
** It’s also a spirit of jealousy.
In front of the Pharisees, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, even though he had already been in the tomb for four days. But they did not open their hearts, but only sought to kill him.
They saw him perform miracles and be acclaimed by the crowd.
Yet they didn’t go to Jesus to be taught by him, but preferred to say that he did it all through Beelzebub.
It’s a spirit that makes you deaf and blind to the truth.
Matthew 12
23 All the astonished crowd said, “Is this not the Son of David?
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.
It’s hard to show a blind man that he’s blind when he thinks he can see.
There are some in the assemblies who envy their brothers when they serve the Lord with power.
They take advantage of the opportunity to criticize and gossip out of jealousy.
Beloved, jealousy is not of Christ. You don’t have to be jealous of your brothers.
You must bless the Lord for the elevation of your brother or sister.
** It’s a spirit of lack of breakthrough.
In John 9,
They questioned the healed blind man to make him doubt his own healing – to make him perceive things as they did. For him to give glory to someone other than Jesus.
And thus prevent him from receiving his breakthrough.
When Jesus heals a person, he not only heals the body, but all other areas of the person’s life are restored.
Consider this, when lepers moved around, they had to shout unclean -They were seen in society as scourges.
Their physical recovery restored their place in society at all levels.
The spirit of the Pharisees wants to prevent your breakthrough, your deliverance, restoration…
Beloved, we must pay attention to what those around us, our families, our friends say.
Because the enemy can use people close to you to discourage you.
In fact, they’ll point out a lack, a situation that seems to be stagnating and make fun of you. Wanting you to believe that despite the fact that you’ve given your life to Jesus Christ nothing changes. Leading you to believe that all your hours of sacrifice and prayer are worthless.
This spirit only wants you to believe that God doesn’t love you – to accuse people.
The people we listen to must be with Jesus. Bad company always corrupts bad morals.
There’s no in-between – either you’re with Jesus, or you’re not.
Beloved, despite all the miracles Jesus performed in their midst, only three Pharisees were touched: Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and much later Paul.
It’s a really dangerous spirit.
** How do I get out of here?
Look at your behavior, your attitude, the people you listen to.
Decide to have a personal relationship, yourself with the Lord.
You must apply your heart to seeking the Lord, reading and meditating on the word – the truth must be in you.
You must cling to Jesus, seek him out, practice his word entirely under the light of the Holy Spirit.
Commit to knowing the Lord with all your heart – don’t give yourself any other options.
Then you’ll see your life change, and so will those who are connected to you.
LET US PRAY →
Lord Jesus, I decide to follow you.
Help me stay connected to you.
To cling to your word.
Visit my perception, my will, my emotions.
My understanding, my life’s visit
May your spirit of fire burn within me and destroy all venom of the enemy.
All that is contrary to your word be consumed in Jesus’ name.
From this day forward, I bear the fruits of true Christianity.
Lord, keep my feet on your path.
May all excuses to prevent me from getting to know you be destroyed.
Holy Spirit takes control of my life.
In the name of Jesus Christ.