Point 2. THE CONDEMNATION OF FAITHLESS SIGN-SEEKERS
Mark 8:10-13; Acts 2:22; Matthew 11:2-6; John 3:1-2,19; 7:31; 9:22,30-34; 11:47-52; 12:10-11; 15:22,24; 20:30,31
“And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him” (Mark 8:11). They had been expecting the Messiah, and they were looking for a sign that He is the expected Messiah. He multiplied bread and fishes and four thousand were fed; He opened the eyes of the blind, healed the deaf, that the people said He had done all things well; cleansed the leper by a word; made the paralytic to rise up, raised Lazarus who had been dead for four days, and yet they were asking for a sign. They were sign seekers but not truth seekers nor salvation seeker. Pray that you will not be a Pharisee or religionist. You cannot see when you are closing your eyes. The signs and all the miracles that Christ performed were glaring, yet they closed their eyes. Even the Samaritans that were despised by these Pharisees recognised Christ as the Saviour of the world (John 4:42). He walked on water, the Holy Spirit like a dove came upon Him after His Baptism, and yet they sought a sign, so He left them (Mark 8:13). We don’t need any other sign; we know that Jesus is our all in all and He will do everything in our lives in Jesus’ name. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22). They knew that they were the signs of the Saviour and Messiah, the only one that brought eternal life, but they were not confessing that He had done all those signs. Thank God, you know that He is your Lord and Saviour. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-5). He did this over and over, to show them that there is nothing for them to look for again. Actually the Pharisees had no excuse but were pretenders, “The same {one of them, Nicodemus} came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). They had resolved that among themselves that they were not going to accept Christ, and anyone that accept Him would be thrown out of the Synagogue, “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22). There are people who are afraid to be thrown out of the synagogue. The synagogue did nothing for them, did not forgive sins, did not heal anybody, it was just a representation of empty religion, and yet there were people that would sell their souls for that religion. “They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out” (John 9:34). The one that gave them evidence of the signs of Christ, they cast out; they didn’t want to accept the signs. You will not be like them, you will believe and accept the signs of Christ as the Saviour and Messiah. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles” (John 11:47). They knew that this Christ does many miracles as the signs of His Messiahship. They knew it internally and pretended so that people will not believe Him. I pray you will not be so sold to religion to hinder people from believing in Christ. They wanted to kill Lazarus to erase evidence that He raised him from the dead, and stop people believing in Him (John 12:10). They had no excuse because Jesus Christ had shown them enough signs of His Messiahship (John 15:24). “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31). The Lord had done many not just one sign. He is your Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Deliverer, and all in all for you; no other sign you are looking for. He died for you on the Cross of Calvary, and since you know and are convinced in your heart, now you come to the Lord and reject the tradition, superstition, and all the religionists seeking for signs. They will not stop you. You believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; salvation is yours in Jesus’ name.
Point 3. THE CAUTION AGAINST FALSE SHEPHERDS
Mark 8:14-21; Matthew 16:11-12; 7:15-20; 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1-3,18-22; Jude 4-8
“And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?” (Mark 8:17-21). They had forgotten that He had multiplied five loaves and fed five thousand, seven loaves and fed four thousand, and yet they were reasoning about not having bread. They did not understand, and the Lord was warning them, “How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?” (Matthew 16:11). The Pharisees projected themselves as shepherds, but they were false. They did not want the truth, salvation and proper understanding to get to the people. That was why Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the false prophets, teachers, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. We must understand that it is not everybody that carries the Bible that is a true shepherd, guiding in the way of salvation. Therefore Jesus Christ cautions us as we come to Him the True Shepherd to beware of the false shepherds, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). By their character, lifestyle and fruits, you will know these false prophets. We are living in the last days. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). Those who are looking for signs will be led astray. We will not be led astray, in Jesus’ name. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). The end of false prophets, shepherds and teachers is destruction because it will be according to their works, “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:15). You will not follow false prophets. The Pharisees did not have the love of the truth that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10). You have the love of the truth and it will never leave you; you will not love unrighteousness and will not depart from the faith in Jesus’ name. You have seen many signs Christ had performed in saving, healing and delivering multitudes of people, and you will not be led astray as those who are seeking for signs (1 Timothy 4:1). You will not follow false prophets and teachers who will come to entice you with money, gifts, and many other promises (2 Peter 2:1-2). False prophets are going to be damned and you will not share nor partake of their damnation in Jesus’ name, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:3). False prophets promise a lot of things, jobs, children, wife, husband, prosperity, healing, deliverance, money, riches and lots, but you will not follow them (2 Peter 2:19). You will not go back to your vomit again. The evil, false doctrines, deceivers, you have left behind, you will not go back to them again in Jesus’ name (2 Peter 2:20-22). Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Lord is the Teacher come from Heaven, the wisest and greatest of all teachers, and He had taught His disciples daily, privately and publicly everything they ought to know, yet He did not assume that His disciples could not be deceived, He still warned them and said, beware of the leaven of the doctrine of the Pharisees. In our church here, we have taught line upon one, precept upon precept, the word of God without fear or favour, the clear word of salvation, and yet we must not assume that nobody here can be deceived. If Christ still warned His direct disciples, He is warning us today. Thank God, you will hold on to, and keep the truth; you will take heed and earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. False teachers, books, tracts, and the false propaganda of the people teaching error will not deceive you in Jesus’ name. You will stand by Christ as your Saviour, Lord, Redeemer, Healer, Deliverer and Good Shepherd, look away from every false shepherd, and look unto Jesus as the Author and Finisher of your faith and the Lord will keep you standing in Jesus’ name. There is nothing a false prophet can offer that Jesus cannot give you, for He hath done all things well, and even tonight He will do all things well. He will feed the hungry, deliver the oppressed, heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, take incurable disease away, move your mountain away, and establish you in the truth that will take you to Heaven in Jesus’ name. Amen
Ponder on this! And Jesus had compassion on them, He provided necessary food for them, cared for them, fed them and took care of their spiritual wellbeing, and yet still warned them of the soul deadening, damning leaven and errors of the Pharisees and false religionists. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Lord is the Teacher come from Heaven, the wisest and greatest of all teachers, and He had taught His disciples daily, privately and publicly everything they ought to know, yet He did not assume that they could not be deceived; He still warned them and said, beware of the leaven of the doctrine of the Pharisees. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Hard Sayings – Our compassion does not stop at dealing with the needs of the body, but we go beyond and meet the needs of the soul. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – I pray that you will allow the Lord Himself at the right time to do His will for you and your family, instead of murmuring and complaining, in Jesus’ name. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – Everything He did in Bible days God is Able and willing to do today. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Key Words – Christ feeds the hungry, heals the sick, forgives and gives salvation to the sinner and the lost, all is as a result of His compassion. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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