Mf Dec 17 2018 Phariseesim in Marriage

[Speaker 1] [singing] Glory, glory, glory be to the Lord. Glory be to the Lord on high. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! To the Prince of Peace, glory be to the Lord. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! To the Prince of Peace, glory be to the Lord! Church and fellowships cannot be more spiritual than the individuals and families that constitute them. God greatly desires a godly home from these words of restoration and instruction in righteousness from Family Truth Ministry. May you be blessed as you listen. [Speaker 2] Let’s turn to Matthew 19. We have been able to take issues arising from biblical injunctions and the marriage ceremony. So, we want to move forward this evening by looking at that Matthew 19 again. Matthew 19, from verse 3. [background noise of children playing] "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, 'Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?' And he answered and said unto them, 'Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.'" Verse 7: "They say unto him, 'Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?' And he said unto them, 'Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication—' or sexual immorality— 'and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her that is put away also committeth adultery.' His disciples say unto him, 'If the case of a man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.'" Now, I want to relate as we conclude this old test today. This is the test since we have begun, though we have been taking it severally. We want to call our attention to the final thing in this text. Now, look at verse 10 closely. The disciples say to him— Jesus’ disciples said to him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry." If this is the case. So, what was the case before Jesus spoke? You can divorce by letter of dismissal. When Jesus now said, "No, it is not possible," what did the disciples now say? "If this is the case, it is good not to marry." Now, take your mind back. Let’s go back now to the Pharisees. The Pharisees came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" Of course, he gave them an answer. When he was through with that answer, verse 7, they said to him, "Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement and put her away?" I’m trying to show you something about a thing we must beg God today, a thing we must pray God. I don't pray, I don't desire, I don't wish that we have marital challenges. That’s not our prayer. But I want to separate a thin line between religion and spirituality. Between religion and spirituality. And it is good we begin to ask ourselves very important questions. One of the things that has been said is something that has blessed me so well, when somebody said, "God, help me to look at the Bible again, not just as somebody who is just passing through, but somebody who is in practical application." One thing that God is helping me to see about this matter that has been related to all that we have been discussing, and I want to come to what led to all this discussion. Who are the people that came tempting Jesus? The Pharisees, the religious leaders. The religious leaders. These are the people that all the laws are with them. They are the custodians of the law. Am I correct? Am I correct? They are the custodians of— I’m talking about today— who are the custodians of the Bible? Who are the custodians of the Christian faith? The custodian of the Bible, the people who have the word of God naturally. Who are the custodians? Is it not we the believers? We the Christians? Is that not so? You know Jesus said something— and that is what we are closing with in this Matthew 19— he said, "Except your righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of God." Have you read that scripture before? Now, we are looking at the Pharisees. We need to ask ourselves. We need to look inward. I am not playing Phariseeism and Sadduceeism in the name of Christianity. I can be the custodian of law. People who are supposed to be custodians of God, the representative of God, the ambassadors of Jesus. It is the custodians, people who are standing to represent God, they are the same people who came with a matter to tempt God. They are the same people who came with a matter to tempt him. Now, why do they come tempting Jesus? Why is it that they could not just come because they want clarification? Why do you think they came? And their coming is a tempting coming? They came not because they want to learn, not because they want to get something correct. They came— they already know what the people had said— because the disciples, they said, "If the case of a man and his wife be like this, it is not good to marry." So, the general opinion of the people, the generation of Israel as at this time, believed that divorce can be for any cause. Are you understanding me? That’s why the disciples themselves said, "If it be like this, it is not good to marry," because they themselves, they’re coming from the background. So, in Israel, there was an understanding because they are custodians of the law of Moses. So, they came not because they wanted a change, not because they wanted to improve, not because they wanted to get better, but they came so that they can snare him, so that they can put a snare in his hands, so that they can hear what he will say. So, they were tempting him. And in tempting him, they said, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" What were they expecting Jesus to say? They were expecting a yes or no answer. But did Jesus give a yes or no answer? Jesus did not. Jesus told them that, "Have you not heard that from the beginning, he made them male and female and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and be joined to his wife'?" He now moved to the next thing. Now, you know what I’m pulling your mind towards? Why is it, according to men, when the disciples said, "It is not good, if the case of a man and his wife be like this, it is not good for a man to marry"? Why is it not good? It is not good if a marriage doesn't have an exit door. It is not good. That’s what they’re trying to say. If a marriage doesn't have an exit door, it is not good. Are you understanding me? If there’s no provision to leave, it is not good. No provision to leave. What makes marriage to be good is a provision to leave. I want to ask you today, brethren, brethren, as we discuss in this forum: what is the wind gradually blowing and establishing itself among believers? What is the wind gradually blowing and establishing itself among ministers? What is the wind gradually blowing today? Is it not a wind of men who are custodians of the law, but at the same time are not men who are willing, who are ready to follow the law? What I’m trying to say is that, do you notice a trend today? I was still discussing with somebody not too long ago and he said, "See, this marriage is not working. And I’m gradually putting everything together to walk off. My friend, you have some or two questions. It is that this thing is not making my life to progress. My life is not progressing. And I need my life to make progress." What I’m asking you, what is the trend? What is the slogan that is becoming— it’s gradually— you may not be seeing the fire simply because you are not doing a lot of counseling. But a fire is gradually blowing or a wind is gradually blowing and getting stronger. And that wind is: it is not good. Disciples are now telling Jesus again, "It is not good if marriage doesn't have an exit door." It is not good. It is not good. The point I’m trying to draw to you is that please, brethren, look into your life. Is it not possible that you are just a custodian of the Bible, but the Bible is not a reality of your life? Is it not possible that you are just a custodian of the Bible? They were the custodians of the law of God, and the law of their God is not in their heart. Rather, they came to tempt their Lord. They came to trap him. They came to make sure that what he was doing is squandered. Are there not men who are doing everything today to squander God’s ordinance? By the things we do as a wife, look at some things that God has ordained for a woman. How do you run your marriage? Are you not saying, "No, God. If the case of a man and his wife be like this, it is not good. This is what me I will do." What I’m saying is that we need to look into our personal life. And I need to ask myself as a man, by some things I do in my marriage, am I not saying, "God, no, it is not good. It is not good. If your ordination is this one, it is not correct." Because why? It is not convenient. Because it is not convenient for me. Why are they saying it is not good? It is not easy. The easiest thing is that *kò le ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀*. Okay. *Kò le ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀*. Letter of divorcement, *kó máa lọ*, and to set up another plan. It’s not very easy. Gbenga, is that not very, very easy? *Àkìlóṣẹlẹ̀?* It’s just female. Okay. No problem. Letter of divorcement. "Madam, sorry, you can't give me a male. That’s the way out." *Ẹ̀n-hẹ́n, olólùfẹ́ tuntun, ìwọ á bí male. Come in.* Is that one not easy? It is easy. Now, the point I’m trying to make is this, is that you need to look into your life. We have looked at several things about the ordinances of marriage. We have looked at issues. But you need to ask yourself: the uneasiness of God’s ordinances. Because as far as the Jews were concerned, it is not good. If the case is like this, it is not good. If I cannot leave her, it is not good. Is that thing not what is ruling you? What I’m trying to say is that please, don't just read the Pharisees. Look at these people that are tempting Jesus. Who do they think they are? They are resisting Jesus. Who do they think they are? Please reflect into your life. Reflect. Have you not become a Pharisee yourself? Have you not become a Sadducee? Are you not seeing from afar rather than seeing closely the Pharisees? Are you really working closely with God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not tempting God in many things we do? In our practice, in our attitude to certain things? And is it not coming again to pass in our life when the Bible says the wrath of God is revealed upon the unrighteousness of men who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness? As it says in Romans 1:18, they know the truth, but they hold it in unrighteousness. They know the truth, but they are holding it in unrighteousness. Instead of saying, "God, change me. God, change me." I can tell people God can change you. If God can turn Nebuchadnezzar— the man— God can change him to become an animal. What is your heart that God cannot change? What is in your life that God cannot alter? God in a moment turned a man to animal, in a moment again turned him back to man. Instead of me crying to God today to change us, to conform us to his image, which is the joy of God. He says as many as he predestinated, as many as he loved, he called, he justified, he glorified. But he wants them to be conformed to the image of the Son. Instead of trying to be conformed to the image of Jesus, becoming more and more like Jesus, what are we doing today in our homes? As we close the matter in Matthew 19, I take you back again to the beginning. Every time you come to God in your marriage, every time you think of God about marriage, are you not tempting God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not saying, "If the case of a man be like this, it is not good"? If it be like this, it is not good. Are you seeing the goodness? Are you seeing the— when it has no exit door, when we have to do everything to make it work, when we have to lay down our life for the other person to live, are you rejoicing in it or are you complaining about it? Are you finding a joy in it, in obeying God? Are you finding joy in serving God that way, in dying for the other to live? Or you find joy in going your own way? Let God die if God wants to die. God understands. You begin to— it’s not among Gentiles. Not among Gentiles. But among the Israelites. Among the Israelites. What I’m going to say is please, don't just read the Pharisees. Look at these people that are tempting Jesus. Who do they think they are? They are resisting Jesus. Who do they think they are? Please reflect into your life. Reflect. I do not become a Pharisee yourself. Have you not become a Sadducee? Are you not seeing from afar rather than seeing closely the Pharisees? Are you really working closely with God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not tempting God in many things we do? In our practice, in our attitude to certain things? And is it not coming again to pass in our life when the Bible says the wrath of God is revealed upon the unrighteousness of men who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness? They know the truth, but they hold it in unrighteousness. They know the truth, but they are holding it in unrighteousness. Instead of saying, "God, change me. God, change me." I can tell people God can change you. If God can turn Nebuchadnezzar, the man, God can change him to become an animal. What is your heart that God cannot change? What is in your life that God cannot alter? God in a moment turned a man to animal, in a moment again turned him back to man. Instead of us crying to God today to change us, to conform us to his image, which is the joy of God. He said as many as he predestinated, as many as he called, he justified, he glorified. But he wants them to be conformed to the image of the Son. Instead of trying to be conformed to the image of Jesus, becoming more and more like Jesus, what are we doing today in our homes? As we close the matter in Matthew, I take you back again to the beginning. Every time you come to God in your marriage, every time you think of God about marriage, are you not tempting God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not saying, "If the case of a man be like this, it is not good"? If it be like this, it is not good. Are you seeing the goodness? Are you seeing the— when it has no exit door, when we have to do everything to make it work, when we have to lay down our life for the other person to live, are you rejoicing in it or are you complaining about it? Are you finding a joy in it, in obeying God? Are you finding joy in serving God that way, in dying for the other to live? Or you find joy in going your own way? Let God die if God wants to die. This is what it is. God understands. You begin to— it’s not among Gentiles. Not among Gentiles, but among the Israelites. Among the Israelites. What I’m going to say is: please, don't just read the Pharisees. Look at these people that are tempting Jesus. Who do they think they are? They are resisting Jesus. Who do they think they are? Please reflect into your life. Reflect. I do not become a Pharisee yourself. Have you not become a Sadducee? Are you not seeing from afar rather than seeing closely the Pharisees? Are you really working closely with God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not tempting God in many things we do? In our practice, in our attitude to certain things? And as we come again to pass in our life when the Bible says the wrath of God is revealed upon the unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness. They know the truth, but they hold it in unrighteousness. They know the truth, but they are holding it in unrighteousness. Instead of saying, "God, change me. God, change me." I can tell people God can change you. If God can turn Nebuchadnezzar— the man— God can change him to become an animal. What is your heart that God cannot change? What is in your life that God cannot alter? God in a moment turned a man to animal, in a moment again turned him back to man. Instead of us crying to God today to change us, to conform us to his image, which is the joy of God. He says as many as he predestinated, he called, he justified, he glorified. But he wants them to be conformed to the image of the Son. Instead of trying to be conformed to the image of Jesus, becoming more and more like Jesus, what are we doing today in our homes? As we close the matter in Matthew 19, I take you back again to the beginning. Every time you come to God in your marriage, every time you think of God about marriage, are you not tempting God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not saying, "If the case of a man be like this, it is not good"? If it be like this, it is not good. Are you seeing the goodness? Are you seeing the— when it has no exit door, when we have to do everything to make it work, when we have to lay down our life for the other person to live, are you rejoicing in it or are you complaining about it? Are you finding a joy in it, in obeying God? Are you finding joy in serving God that way, in dying for the other to live? Or you find joy in going your own way? Let God die if God wants to die. God understands. You begin to— it’s not among Gentiles. Not among Gentiles, but among the Israelites. Among the Israelites. What I’m going to say is: please, don't just read the Pharisees. Look at these people that are tempting Jesus. Who do they think they are? They are resisting Jesus. Who do they think they are? Please reflect into your life. Reflect. I do not become a Pharisee yourself. Have you not become a Sadducee? Are you not seeing from afar rather than seeing closely the Pharisees? Are you really working closely with God? Are you not resisting God? Are you not tempting God in many things we do? In our practice, in our attitude to certain things? And is it not coming again to pass in our life when the Bible says, as written in 1 Corinthians 10, our fathers were examples unto us, that we may not do what they did, we that the end of the world have come upon. We should not tempt God the way they tempted God. We should not be murmurers and complaining as they were destroyed by the destroyer. We should not be this. Go and check the fathers again what they did, when things were not too easy. God began to suffer hunger to teach them, to make them better. All these things we go through is to make us, is to conform us to his image. But we are not seeing it that way today. We are resisting the ordinances of God. You know, let’s go. Let’s rethink. Are we the Pharisees? Custodians of the word of God and yet the word of God is not in our heart? We rather tempt God and resist him. Let us pray. Let's pray for this evening. Let's pray for this evening. What we really come to look at this evening is Phariseeism. Phariseeism. And I’m talking about tempting God and resisting God. Tempting God and resisting God. Tempting God, resisting God. You know what is right. You’re already asking— you’re already doing certain things— you know what is right. Are you not quenching the spirit of God? Are you not quenching God’s word? Are you not grieving the spirit? Let's check inside. Let's look inward. Let us pray. Let's pray. Phariseeism. The ways of the fathers. Phariseeism, the ways of the fathers. Phariseeism and the ways of the fathers. Let's ask the Lord. Instead of resisting God, instead of going the way of the fathers, let's pray God that I may be conformed to your image. Lord, break me. Lord, mold me. That is what God wants to do with our lives. He wants to conform us to the image of the Son. But we must submit our lives. We must not come tempting God. Tempters don't get blessed. Jesus will tell them, "Woe to you, Pharisees." Men whose heart are hard to it, they don't get better. God cannot mold them. What he says is, "Woe to you." You don't get better when you are like that. He that must come to God must believe that God is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. There must be this faith that says, "Oh, God, I have come to you. I want to be like you. I want to submit to your truth." That is how it is. The prayer is that God, deliver me from every element of Phariseeism. God, deliver me from every element of Phariseeism. Let my righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees. Don't make me custodians of your word and yet opposers of the truth. Custodians of your word and yet opposers of the truth. God Almighty, that my righteousness will exceed that of the Pharisees. And that Lord, God Almighty, Lord, I may have the fathers for an example. That I will not go the way of the fathers. He said we should not go, we should not do as our fathers did in the wilderness, how they tempted God. And with that generation God was not pleased. Oh, can you pray that God will be pleased with my own generation? God will be pleased with my life in marriage. I will work to please God. I will work— walk to please the Lord. walk to please the Lord. walk to please the Lord. Whether in marriage or before marriage, God Almighty, make my life a life that pleased the Lord. A life that pleased the Lord. A life that pleases the Lord. A life that pleases the Lord. A life that pleases the Lord. Thank you, Father. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.