27/07/2016 - THE TRUTH IN THE INTENTIONS

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Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.   Matthew 23:28

It is not easy to remove from men the concern for the exterior, which, many times, fulfills him under the pompous cloak of human justice. As much as the Spirit of God shows you in the Word that this is not the right path, man dares to say that he is not like the other men, because, in his opinion, he does not commit adultery, he does not steal and defraud anyone.  Pharisaism makes us feel safe, preventing us from seeing the errors we see in other people. 

If someone looks at another person with an impure intention, then they have already committed adultery with them (Matthew 5:28). Besides, it is also a sin for someone to dress up in a provocative manner or use sensuality when they speak, walk, try to gain attention, recognition, a job promotion or even tempt the other person just to see if in fact they are a servant of God. 

Jesus spoke about the person who exposes the spouse to adultery, when giving a divorce letter without there being any infidelity. Now, the divine warning must be taken very seriously. However, we are used to listening to the devil and refuse to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, which reminds us of what is written. The promise of the Lord that gives us an escape when temptation comes is fulfilled at all times when we are before a hellish attack (1 Cor 10:13). 

The desire to go by as benefactors caused Ananias and his wife to die because of a lie they told before the church in Jerusalem.  Most certainly there are others that received similar condemnation because they were hypocrites even when in decisions they swear that come from God. It is necessary to examine our reasons, because when we use false arguments and wicked purposes then we are contaminated. 

The command is to clean the interior of the plates, for, even if we eat the heavenly bread which is pure, if we have a filthy heart we will be contaminated with the devil´s poison. Then, instead of being quenched, we feed the demon that was sent to take us away from the Way. 

Examine all your actions, as well as what is deep within your heart that leads you to pray for such a blessing. Remove everything that comes from the devil. Otherwise, you will stumble on your own desires, and instead of blessing the brethren and those that are lost, you might lead them to spiritual adultery. Then, you will not only be accountable for your mistakes but also other people´s mistakes. The orientation from the Lord is that we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). 

Holiness does not need to make an effort to be shown in your life, but it needs a decision of not giving room to the devil. Whenever your heart leads you to do something that is not in agreement with the biblical orientation, you must refuse it, for it is a work of the one who has the power to manifest himself into an angel of light ( 2 Cor 11:14). Surely no error comes from the Lord! 

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares