Thoughts for Today –
By Laurence Torr – Written 31st October 2014
Discouragement is never from the true God who is the creator of the heavens and earth and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, Is always and I mean always a God of Encouragement and love and a God of deliverance. The true God is a God that makes a way in the wilderness of life and rivers to run in the deserts of life.
Through the decades and through religion, God has been misrepresented, to the those that are lost and looking for true answers. God has been misrepresented as a God of hell and condemnation and fire.
I want to tell you and remind you, God is a good God, and has made available to mankind, life in all it fullness, a life through His son Jesus Christ, so that we can walk and live in victory and power and freedom from anything that would oppress us and suppress us and keep us in darkness
Man made religion always enslave, always judges, always condemns, if we don’t follow its rules and regulations and practises. Religion is what Men says what we should do and how we should live, and how we should be saved, and right with God, instead of showing people how God says we should do thing and the best way to live and to be saved.
Jesus Christ confronted the religious leaders of His day and time. His word then and today still stand strong and true to those that oppress the people of God. The leaders that were supposed to be serving Gods people and helping them were doing the opposite and keeping Gods people in bondage and fear, through their tradition…This is what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day and time.
Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not
their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition?
Firstly the scribes and Pharisees were the religious leaders of that day.
and here is the example Jesus gave to them. First he tells them this is what God says
Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
In the next verses Jesus, points out to them and reminds them this is what you say.
Matthew 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made
the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with
their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.
The scribes and the Pharisee, the religious leaders at that time, were not happy with Jesus Disciples, because they transgress the tradition of the elders, but Jesus reproves them by answering, why do you also transgress the commandments of God, see these leaders changed things to suit them, forgetting what God said was right or wrong, these guys were more concern with their traditions then following the heart of God they wanted people to follow their rules and regulations above that which God was saying ., and verse 6 Jesus said you have made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. The delivering power of God, was of no effect in the leaders lives and the lives of those they were supposed to be helping and guiding, and ministering too. These leaders placed more importance on their traditions in verse 7 Jesus called them hypocrites, Jesus said this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips but their hearts is far from me, but in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
So we can see just from this record how God had been misrepresented, Jesus Called them hypocrites, or stage players they acted all so Godly but they were like a sepulchre nice on the outside but inside they were full of dead men bones, they cleanse the outside dressing up to look the part but there inward parts were rotten to the bone. they would say things that were oh so nice and say long and nice prayers but their hearts were far from God.
Religion always put on a show so it looks nice and sounds Godly, but their actions and words are dead, because their hearts were far from God.
Here we will see more of what Jesus said about the Scribes and Pharisees
Matthew 23:1-39 (KJV)
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus Christ came to set the record straight, by pointing out the false leaders and their works and their words. What did he say? let’s look at some of thing Jesus Christ warns us about and what to look for about religious and its manmade doctrines.
1) don’t do their works for they say But they don’t do the works themselves.
2) They bind heavy burdens grievous (Oppressive) to be borne and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
3) they do works so other see it (look at me I am the Leader)
4) They want to be Rabbi or master But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ)…………. this is my leader.
5) they love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues they want to be recognised as “The Leaders” they want the jet planes, the nice mansion to live in, the recognition.
6) They like being called Father and Master. but we have one Father which is God. and our master is Christ Jesus.
7) They wanted to be the greatest in contrast Jesus said be the one that serves.
8) They exalt themselves I have all the answers I know everything. but Jesus said be humble.
9) They shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men they don’t go in and don’t let others who are entering in go in. they are going the wrong way and the people that were going the right way end up going the wrong way.
10) hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses and for a pretence make long prayer, they are pretenders. they did not spare widows, but devoured their substance and for a show make long prayers; to cover their wickedness, pretending great devotion and religion;
11) They search to convert someone from another country but made them twice the child from hell.
12) fools and blind leaders
13) for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: speak for it self.
14) for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
15) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
16) outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
17) ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
18) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers,
Very strong words, but words of truth, Jesus showed the people the hypocrites and what to watch out for and he showed them the hearts of these blind leaders in contrast to true heart of God and His love and power , by healing the sick, cleansing the lepers raising the dead, bring them hope through his word which was with power.
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
The people were amaze and struck with astonishment at his instruction to them what he taught them, for His word was with Power authority, bringing freedom.
Anyone can look and say they are doing the work of God, but what we need to look for is that word with power, the service, the love, the ministering to bring deliverance and freedom to the hearts and minds and bodies of those searching, bringing the good news of the gospel concerning Jesus Christ and the love of God, connecting people back to God through the word and ministry of reconciliation.
God’s true heart is for all men to saved and come unto a knowledge of the truth not religion not anything that enslaves or ensnares you, but the truth that sets you free.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth
John 8:32 . And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
This is the heart of God, our God is a good God and a God of encouragement, His heart for all men
is peace and good will. this good will in this verse Luke 2:14 means satisfaction, delight, kindness,
purpose, desire, good pleasure, this is the heart of God for all men and to come unto the knowledge of
the truth.
God wants all men to be saved and God has made it available through Jesus Christ for all to
be saved, but the choice is yours, if you’re not saved.. He also wants you to know the truth, not
religion or men opinions. God does not want any to perish but come to repentance, which means to
turnaround from the life your living now and turned to this good God which has the best life for you.
If you want this life and are not saved then you can receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour,
here is how to begin, this is something that you can do. you can confess or say Jesus is Lord and You
can believe God raised him from the dead
Romans 10:9-10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you say with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him for the dead then the scriptures say you are saved, you become a child of God, born again of the spirit of God. then the next thing you do is Make Jesus the Lord of your life, It is that simple. Find someone that can teach you Gods word, and begin to live the truth in your life not religion not man made theories.
If you are already born again, but recognize you are in bondage or enslaved through religion what men say about God. then I encourage you to get to a place where you can be taught the truth about God and His son Jesus Christ and the freedom that is your through Jesus Christ.
Remember Our God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a God of encouragement He love everyone He is for you and with you, He has done everything for you through the accomplished works of His dear son Jesus Christ. The rest is up to You.
If you have an question and you’re searching for answers please feel free to email at
laurencetorr@runbox.com
I pray you have been encouraged
much love
Laurence x
