In warfare, there is a simple axiom that is
necessary if one is to be successful. This fundamental and critical battle
principal is understood to be: "KNOW
YOUR ENEMY". Understanding this, God has preserved instruction throughout
His Word for those who would war against the foes of His Kingdom. With Satan as their
commander, we open our series with God's revelation of this enemy force, and
what their characteristics are manifested to be.
We
have many enemies in our service to God. These range from the world and worldly things, the flesh and all it's
lusts to pride/ego and the associated mental tricks that the enemy plays, but the specific
enemy we speak of here is amply revealed in Scripture to be the leadership of God’s people: the pastors, teachers and institutions designed to
fuel the children of God. As we trace their history through the Bible,
we become armed with the knowledge of them as God enlightens us. With
this understanding, the Lord gives us the ability to overcome
their influence. We pray you become so equipped!
It is
fitting that we begin our study with the adjectives and description of the afore mentioned
group as given by God Himself. As you read and reference the verses presented below
please allow them to sink deep into your mind and soul: they will change your
perspective and life!
Our Foes
As in the beginning, Satan shepherds this group as they are
described:
· As "VIPERS" (Mat. 3:7),
· who "POLLUTE THE HOUSE OF GOD" (2 Chron. 36:14).
· They are "COVETOUS" (Jer. 8:10)
· and MONEYGRUBBERS (Mic. 3:11).
· They DESTROY & MAKE DESOLATE THE LORD'S VINEYARD" (Jer.12:10).
· They are called "LAWBREAKERS" (Jer. 8:8)
· and "FOOLS" (Mat. 37:17-19).
· They "REJECT AND PERSECUTE THE PROPHETS" (2 Chron. 36:14-17).
· They are named as "SERPENTS" (Mat. 23:33)
· and "NOT OF GOD" (John 8:47).
· They "PROPHESY FROM THEIR OWN HEART" (Ezek. 13:1-10).
· They are "STIFF-NECKED" (Jer. 23:14)
· and "REJECT THE WORD" (Jer. 5:13).
· They are "UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND FLESH" (Jer. 6:10)
·
Known as "MOCKERS" (Mk.
15:31-32)
· and "BLIND GUIDES" (Isa. 29:10).
· They "BLASPHEME GOD" (Mat. 9:34)
· and "LACK DISCERNMENT" (Mat. 16:3).
· They are described as "WICKED" (Jer. 23:11)
·
Known as "PEOPLE PLEASERS" (John 5:44).
· They become "ENVIOUS" (Mat. 27:18)
· and are described as "VAIN" (Jer. 2:8, 8:8).
· Named as "IDOLATERS" (2 Chron. 24:17-19 plus 6 other locations),
· They are called "HERETICS" (Mat. 15:3-9)
· and "UNCLEAN" (Mat. 23:27).
· They "EXALT THEMSELVES" (3 Jn. 9-10),
· but "DON’T KNOW GOD" (Jer. 2:8).
· They are described as "DUNG" (Jer. 8:1-2)
· "GRAVES" (Luke 11:44).
· and are called "LIARS" (Psa. 27:12)
· Christ refered to them as "WHITED SEPULCHERS" (Mat. 23:27).
· Known as those who see "VAIN AND FOOLISH THINGS" (Lam. 2:14),
· they are deep into "TRADITION" (Mk.7:1-13).
· They "LACK UNDERSTANDING" (Mk.8:11).
· As "DECEITFUL" (Jer. 14:13-14),
· they "HAVE NOT THE LOVE OF GOD" (John 5:42).
· Bringing "FALSE BURDENS" (Lam. 2:14),
· they become "BRUTISH" (Jer. 5:3).
· As "SEDUCERS" (Ezek. 13:1-10),
· they carry a "FALSE VISION" (Jer. 14:13-14).
· They "RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Jer. 5:3),
· and are "MERCILESS" (Mat.9:13).
· They "MURMUR" (Acts 7:51),
· and exhibit their "BAD HEART" (Mal.2:1-2).
· They "TURN FROM GOD" (Jer. 2:26),
· and
"ARE AS WIND" (Jer. 5:13).
· They are described as "LIGHT" (Zeph. 2:4),
· and "WITHOUT PITY" (Zech. 11:4-5).
·
Described as "MURDERERS" (Hos. 6:9),
· they "FOLLOW THEIR OWN SPIRIT" (Exek. 13:1-10).
· Being "LEWD" (Hos. 6:9),
· they seek to "JUSTIFY THEMSELVES" (Luke 10:29).
· Holding fast to "LINEAGE" (Mat. 3:9),
· they "MAJOR IN MINORS" (Prov. 21:23).
· Seen as "THIEVES AND ROBBERS" (Jn. 10:1,8),
· they "CONSPIRE" (Jer. 18:18).
· They "PROPHESY FALSELY" (Jer. 5:31),
· and "DEAL FALSELY" (Jer. 6:13).
· As "HYPOCRITES" (Isa. 29:13),
· they follow "THE LETTER" of the law (2 Cor. 3:6).
· They "KEEP PEOPLE FROM THE KINGDOM" (Mat. 22:13).
· They "TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT" (Zeph. 3:8).
· They are "INSURRECTIONISTS" (Mat. 27:20),
· and "BETRAYERS" (Mt. 20:17-19).
· They "REJECT ANY APPROACH" (Mt.11:16-19) and effort toward them.
· Their sin is known as "ADULTERY" (Jer. 23:14),
· as they "REJECT TRUTH" (Jer. 18:18).
· Becoming "TREACHEROUS" (Zeph. 3:4),
· they fail to "REBUKE SIN" (Lam. 2:14).
· As "PERVERTED" (Jer. 23:34-36),
· they "REJECT THE PROPHETS" (Acts 13:27) .
· As "DISHONEST" (Ezek. 22:27),
· they are "GRIEVOUS WOLVES" (Acts 20:29).
· These are they that "DESTROY AND SCATTER THE SHEEP" (Jer. 23:1).
· and we find them "FULL OF RAVENING AND WICKEDNESS" (Luke 11:39).
· And finally being described as "OF SATAN HIMSELF"! (John
8:44)!
As is evident throughout these
passages, God is giving us ample warning as to who the enemy is using and what they are
like. Jesus, in his day, warned His disciples to "Beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees" (Mat. 16:6, Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1). How then are they working their evil
today, and how should we be concerned about them?
What did these people believe?
Contrary to what
might be expected, the doctrines of these people are clearly found in Scripture...in fact
the things that they held to can best be described as "Fundamentalism".
· They believed in the resurrection of the dead, Angels, and Spirits (Acts
23:6-9).
· They supported the Temple, the Priesthood and the Davidic Kings. (see: Ex.
28:1; Num. 3:12; 2 Chron.7:12; 2 Sam. 7).
· They believed in the God of the Old Testament, knew and quoted Scripture,
fasted twice a week, paid tithes, prayed and did good deeds.
As is obvious,
these were not "Pagan", or a "Cult" or "Liberal"; THEY
BELIEVED DOCTRINALLY AS MOST CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS DO TODAY! It is this group that
Christ called "CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL" (John 8:44) and "HELL" (Mat.
23:15).
In contrast,
Sadducees were similar in doctrine to today’s "Reform Jews" or
"liberal Christians" in that they denied most of the "fundamental
beliefs" of the Conservative Religious leadership. (See: Mat. 22:23; Mark 12:18).
"Sadducees" are Satan's first line of attack against some issues of the faith
but they are not a serious threat to those who believe the truth of the Word. For those
who know the reality of God's Word Satan's battle plan has become more "covert"
and hidden in nature.
Christ traced the
problem of Phariseeism back to Cain and Abel (Mat. 23:34-35), throughout the Old Testament
and to all persecutors of the Prophets and true Men of God. Cain believed in and
worshipped God. He brought his offering to God, but ended up killing his brother Abel
because: "the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering but unto Cain and his
offering the Lord had not respect" (Gen. 4:4-5). Truly the roots of error are seen in
the misguided efforts of Cain and his consuming jealousy that resulted in his brothers
murder!
Throughout the Old
Testament God was forced to raise up Prophets and Men of God outside the Temple
Priesthood to preach repentance and His mind to the Children of Israel. These servants of
the most high God were all persecuted and even killed by these false Shepard's who
controlled the Priesthood.
· Jeremiah’s enemies were the Temple officials (Jer. 20:1-2).
· Ezekiel’s opposition and foes were the "prophets" of Israel
(Ezek.13:1-2).
· Amos found his opposition in the form of the priesthood (Amos 7:10).
· Just as Christ rebuked the religious leaders' hypocrisy and error, so did
Jeremiah (Jer.23) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 34).
THROUGHOUT
THE BIBLE, SCRIPTURE-QUOTING, DOCTRINALLY CORRECT, RECOGNIZED RELIGIOUS LEADERS PERSECUTED
THE TRUE MEN OF GOD!
What about today?
The same spirit and activity of
Pharaseeism we have seen through the Old Testament has continued unabated, and has even
accelerated through Church history. Most Protestants recognize the traits and
characteristics of Phariseeism in the Roman Catholic Church but fail to see it within
themselves. While their assessment of Romanism is true, they fail to see that both
hold tradition as equal or even above Scripture. (One is just more obvious that
the other!)
Since the
Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church’s control over Christendom has been
broken. This was accomplished, in large part, by the publishing of the Word of God
following the invention of the printing press. Though this provided a golden opportunity
for the Church to break forth into the truth of true reformation Satan was not far behind
as he shifted his efforts to the Protestants. Much of Protestantism has fallen prey to
liberalism (modern day Sadducees) while the more "traditional doctrine" has been
defended by Fundamentalists and Evangelicals. On close inspection we see a more insidious
spread of Phariseeism amongst Protestant Evangelicals, who try to say the enemy is
Catholicism, Liberalism or the cults. This is consistent with Satan's plan of attacking
the area of most threat to his overall plan…negating the Churches power.
As the Catholics
became the "fall guys" Satan permeated the Fundamentalists. Believing themselves
to be the "defenders of the faith" they have become an even greater problem: one
of a covert and hidden nature! Satan’s plan and objective is to water down and negate
the power found in the Church and the people of God. He is content if the Church has a
"form of Godliness" as long as it has no power. (2 Tim. 3:5) He is happy with
salt…but only if it "has no savor" (Mat. 5:13).
SATAN HAS DONE TO
CHRISTIANITY WHAT HE DID TO JUDAISM: TAKEN OVER THE LEADERSHIP WITH LEGALISTIC HYPOCRITES!
PHARISEEISM HAS POLLUTED THE CHURCH JUST AS IT DID THE TEMPLE!!
As we look around
Western Christianity today we see:
· Bibles everywhere (and every possible translation).
· Gospel programs on radio and TV in an unprecedented way.
· Christian magazines in abundance.
· Huge evangelical meetings and gatherings; Mega-Churches with every possible
type of group being catered to.
· All kinds of "special" meetings and groups attempting to augment
the lack that is evident in the 20th century Church (Promise Keepers, Women of
Faith, etc)
· Freedom provided by a Country that in the history of the Church is like
none other.
· Music, praise and worship of God seemingly being expressed like no other
time in history
· Books, literature and "Christian commerce" in every conceivable
way being marketed to the Church
And in the face of
all this:
LAWLESSNESS, PROMISCUITY,
ADULTERY, DIVORCE, SODOMY, VIOLENCE, DRUGS, ABORTION AND PORNOGRAPHY.
RADIO, TV, MUSIC AND MOVIES
ACTIVELY PROMOTING SIN ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE.
SEXUAL DISEASE RAMPANT WITH
PERVERSIONS HEAPED UPON PERVERSIONS.
ROLE MODELS THAT ARE LAUGHABLE
AT BEST AND OVERTLY SATANIC AT WORST.
AND FINALLY A “LOVING”
GOD BEING PRESENTED THAT IS LAUGHED AT AND SCORNED BY A PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO CONCEPT OF THE
FEAR OF HIM AND THE JUDGMENT HE WILL BRING!
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TODAY HAS
LOST IT'S POWER AND INFLUENCE AND HER SALT HAS LITTLE SAVOR. THE GOSPEL DOES
GET OUT, AND PEOPLE DO GET SAVED, HOWEVER THE "JESUS" PEOPLE MEET IS MUCH
DIFFERENT FROM THE LORD THEY WILL ENCOUNTER ON JUDGMENT DAY. THE MORES AND
STANDARDS...INDEED THE VERY CULTURE OF THE CHURCH IS WHAT SATAN SEEKS TO
INFLUENCE IN OUR TIME. THE CONTEMPORARY PHARISIDICAL INFLUENCE OF TODAY SEEKS TO "LOWER THE BAR" OF
CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND INFLUENCE IT TO A POINT OF DIMINISHED RETURNS. THIS EFFORT IS
USUALLY NOT OVERT BUT RATHER A COMBINATION OF INFLUENCES STEMMING FROM THE "WILL OF
MAN" AND "TRADITIONS".
THE SECOND PUNCH, AND THE ONE
THAT BECOMES THE KNOCKOUT BLOW, RESIDES WITH THE FLOCK ITSELF. TWO PATHS ARE
AVAILABLE TO GOD'S CHILDREN: REPENTANCE, FAITHFULNESS AND TRUE BIBLICAL SERVICE OR A
CONTINUATION, AND EVEN ACCELERATION, OF THE STATUS QUO. FOR THE MOST PART, HOW
THIS HAS EFFECTIVELY OCCURED IS DESCRIBED IN JEREMIAH 5:31:
"THE
PROPHETS PROPHESY FALSELY, AND THE PRIESTS BEAR RULE BY THEIR MEANS...AND MY
PEOPLE LOVE TO HAVE IT SO..."
LOWER EXPECTATIONS MEAN LOWER
RESULTS...THIS IS THE VICTORY OF CONTEMPORARY PHARASEEISM TODAY.
What is next.
In the chapters to
follow we will be detailing many of the doctrines that have been lost or
watered down by the success of this Pharisitical assault. The net effect in understanding
these doctrines, when mixed with a good heart, is REVIVAL.
Just as there is no effective teaching about the Pharisees and their influence, you
will not find much of what follows in this series taught in contemporary literature,
books, seminars, or the pulpit….but you will find it within Scripture!
It is our hope
that you use this knowledge to maximum advantage!