Sadducees, A Warning!!!

Sadducees, A Warning!!!

by Heather Collver

It's not always safe to take what you hear as truth without first checking it with God's Word. Has there ever been a time when you have heard a spiritual leader say something that just didn't align with The Word? It is important to know the truth yourself as every leader has their own perspective on things, even me.

Matthew 16:5-12 (Amplified Bible)
5When the disciples reached the other side of the sea, they found that they had forgotten to bring any bread.
6Jesus said to them, Be careful and on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
7And they reasoned among themselves about it, saying, It is because we did not bring any bread.
8But Jesus, aware of this, asked, Why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? O you [men, how little trust you have in Me, how] little faith!
9Do you not yet discern (perceive and understand)? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many [[a]small hand] baskets you gathered?
10Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many [[b]large provision] baskets you took up?
11How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
12Then they discerned that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


Sadducees were the spiritual leaders of the time, they were the High Council and Jesus warned his disciples of their teachings. Their Doctrine was in the way of the Truth.

Many people ask me what denomination I am, or where I worship. They mainly want to know what I am. It is crazy, since I never became a Christian because of any certain religion or doctrine. I recognized a relationship that was void in my life and I wanted it, I needed to know my creator, so I discovered Him through reading His Word and worshipping with other fellow believers. I am not defined by the denomination that my church falls under. Thank God that our church has a good mix of spiritual leaders, all which stress the importance of a personal relationship with our creator. We have Nazarene, Catholic, Church of Christ, Baptist and other influences in the teaching, but the truth is only what aligns with the Word of God.

So be careful, in any religion, doctrine or gathering, not everyone tells the truth. It is so fun to listen to other perspectives and I have learned a great deal about things by being open to listening to opinion, it has strengthened my faith as I spend those moments checking what my Lord says about certain things in His Word.

Where did the Sadducees fall short, what were they teaching that was so wrong that God warned the others about them? They didn't believe Jesus was the Son of God and they didn't believe in Resurrection. That's a start and I think pretty much enough information to see that they were not teaching truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFURxgaLxEE&feature=related

Dear Lord, thank you for those who choose to serve you through spiritual teaching. What a HUGE job for them to teach the truth according to your word. At times it is overwhelming to think that there are just as many people teaching your truth as those who are teaching lies. I ask Lord as you prepare the way for us, that we will not get caught up in other's teachings and that we would have discernment to know what is right. May our relationship with you be so deep that we know when others are leading us astray, let us teach others according to your word as well, always speak truth through me, especially in this devotional, do whatever it takes to get my attention if I have the wrong idea about a certain subject. I love you and praise you for your Word, our guide, Your Spirit, our guide. Amazing.

Heat

Proverbs 27:21

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, 

but man is tested by the praise he receives.

Is it getting hot in here?

It is so true that it is the praises we have to live up to. Creating a reputation of integrity, honesty, kindness and godlyness is hard work. It can also be the heat needed to purify our lives. 

We can only be as great as the expectations that we put on ourselves. When we meet those expectations, people around us begin to notice and pretty soon we get to hear that we are doing a great job. Do you enjoy hearing that your efforts have paid off? I do. It can also keep me in line. I love teaching through this blog, I love teaching through the one on one studies that I have a chance to do with women. I loved having the opportunity to teach this last weekend at a women's retreat. I have started to build up a reputation. I have also realized that some of the choices I make in my day to day life need to be brought up to the standard that has been set for me. 

There will be days that I won't live up to the praises. Maybe that is why it gets so hot. But just like the silver and just like the gold, I will be purified through the fire. 

May your life be a process of success, praise and purifying.

Please continue to pray for Dale C this week

A blessing or a curse?

Proverbs 27:14
A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
will be taken as a curse!

Okay, so anyone with children probably can relate to this passage. Anyone who is a night owl would also agree. I happen to have children and be a night owl. I actually think it is pretty funny how this was my verse for today. I know that there are times that I think I will find something so profound in God's Word that it changes my very way of thinking. It is not very often that I find a verse like this and think it was written just for me!!!

It is true that not everyone can wake up in the morning and have instant cheerfulness. In fact, in our house, our children have learned that just because it is light out doesn't mean it is time for mommy to get up. Lately, as I have been changing my lifestyle to be healthier, I have woke up to the alarm at 4:50 am and thought to myself how I could destroy the alarm. To me, it is a curse to wake up that early in the morning. It takes a few minutes and I am up and out and walking with my friends who put up with me and my not-so-cheerful early morning self. Partially through the walk, I begin to wake up and have witty and thoughtful things to say. I have forgotten how bad it was to get up that early and I am somehow blessed that I have given myself some me time to start my day off. It is amazing how just a few minutes can change your whole day.

I have a friend who says she goes in to her children's rooms in the morning and lays down next to them and slowly wakes them up. She uses gentle words and kind gestures to pull them from their dreams and back in to consciousness. How pleasant that is, how awesome it would be to experience a loving and kind wake up call.

How is it at your house. Whether you have children or not, what is your routine? This is a great verse to share with your children. How they can be a blessing in the morning by playing quietly or reading or looking through a book until mommy and daddy are up. It is also a reminder that we have an opportunity to bless our children with an amazing day by carefully choosing their method of wake up routines. Are we concerned about their health, their days. Can we be a blessing to them as well as asking them to be a blessing to us?

What will you do tomorrow morning? Each new day is a blessing. The first few minutes can lay out the pattern for the entire day. Make it a habit to praise God for each day before your feet even hit the floor. Offer a prayer or a praise as your first words. Let me know how your day goes.

Dear Lord, help us to take the time to be a blessing to others in the morning. Help us to be kind to those who may wake us up earlier than we would like. Lord, help us to look to you and give you the first of our day by reflecting your love to others and by praising you for each new day.

Please pray for Chloe F. this week. Thank you.

Praise

Proverbs 27: 2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

We live in a society that almost requires us to sell ourselves to each other. A perfect resume, the right references, the perfect language and look that distinguishes me from the other guy.

This makes me wonder, how do you sell yourself as great if you are the only one that ever has anything good to say about you?

Makes me wonder, what would the people I have relationships with say about me?

Living a godly life is not easy. Life hits us hard with struggle and disappointment. Our response to our hardest days will be the places in which we will earn our reputations. Are you honest? Did you have self-control? Were you loving, patient and kind to those around you? It won't be your word that praises you but people and how you represented the God you say you serve.

Remember that people are watching and it is up to you. Although we don't need to seek the approval of people, we still represent our Savor in all the things we do. People don't expect us to be perfect or full of strength. They want to see that our hope comes from a Living God that guides and comforts.

I would like to challenge you today to take a moment to praise someone in your life. Take a moment to write an email, leave a voicemail or send a card. They deserve to know that they are doing a good job, we all too often don't get to hear it enough. Comment to this Blog today with their name and a short story of them. I will randomly choose one of them to receive a special gift from Women of Worship. (I will contact the winning commenter next Monday to get contact information).

Please Continue to pray for Janice J this week.
Tomorrow is Praise and Prayer Friday.
Happy Birthday to Heather C and Ellie S on there very special day!! We love you!!