Our paragraph topic is: (Blasphemy against the Spirit not forgiven)
Pt 3.
The Pharisees have been given the curse that they brought upon themselves. Christ has told them that blasphemy against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either here on earth or there in the coming of the kingdom of heaven. The demons have delight in this pronouncement by Christ because the Pharisees have placed themselves into the hands of Satan. They have officially taken on the mark of the beast through their actions against Christ and the Holy Spirit. How did they do this, by proclaiming that Christ performed miracles by the power of Beelzebub.
Christ had warned them of their blindness. He had warned them of their judgment. He had warned them of the presence of the kingdom of God. But they did not listen. They did not hear. They did not understand the truth. For they were fearful of loosing their positions. They were fearful of loosing their power. They were fearful of loosing their authority over the people. And it was this fear that led them to bring upon themselves the curse proclaimed by Christ. For the battle continued. The lines were drawn and the sides were chosen. The Pharisees chose their side in the battle and they chose to fight against Christ. Christ had told them that they were either against him or they were with him. There was no in between. They were there to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel or they were there to scatter the sheep. It was simply a matter of black and white. There was no grey. The tree was either good or bad. Christ said to them, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad for by the fruit the tree is known."
Long had the Pharisees been in power. Long had they exercised authority over the people. Long had they led the people in the ways that were of their own making. And the devil came. They devil crept into their midst. The devil slowly and steadily grew on them such that they began to change to his ways and forsake the ways of God. Greed took over. Lust brought her chains into the temple and enslaved the leadership. Vanity prevailed. Corruption was brought in. And all manner of evil began to surface and become part of the rank and file of the Pharisees. And Satan had his grip upon them, that their passions and desires blossomed fully without check. And Christ came into the picture. Christ began to preach. Christ spoke against them. And Christ proclaimed the curse upon them that they spoke with their own mouths.
The Pharisees lived in luxury. The Pharisee lived in honor and respect of the people. They enjoyed favors and privileges that were given to no others. And it was those same favors and privileges, that same honor and respect, that brought them to their downfall. They did not want to change. They did not want to relinquish to a higher authority. They wanted to hold own to their positions despite the decrees of the higher authority. For God declared the end of their reign. God declared the beginning of a new time. God proclaimed the judgment and the sacrifice of the lamb to justify the people. God proclaimed the end of the reign of Satan on earth.
But Satan continues to influence, even today. Satan continues to creep. Satan continues to steal, and kill, and destroy. For the tree is bad and the fruit is bad of those who follow him. There is no middle ground. Satan would have man believe that there is a middle ground so that he can snatch those who walk the fence. Do you know the fruit of the Spirit? Are you a tree of good fruit or a tree of bad fruit? There is no partial fruit, partially good and partially bad. Do not be deceived by the suggestions of the devil. For he is there to deceive, he is the father of all deception.
Are you with Christ or against him? Are you a scatterer or a gatherer? Know your fruit. Know who you are. Stand up and become a warrior for Christ that your fruit may be known. Put on the armor of the Holy Spirit and take the sword of God that you may fight the temptations of the devil. The devil will deceive you. The devil will lie to you. The devil will steal from you that precious gift of life given you by the blood of Christ. Be not in the world but be in the word of Christ! Be not in the world but be in the Holy Spirit! Know that he will come to you. Know that he will provide for you. Know that he will protect and guide you that you may do the will of God in this world and be blessed with his riches. For God is the owner of the vineyard and all those who produce bad fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Be of good fruit and know who you are!
Pt 3.
The Pharisees have been given the curse that they brought upon themselves. Christ has told them that blasphemy against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either here on earth or there in the coming of the kingdom of heaven. The demons have delight in this pronouncement by Christ because the Pharisees have placed themselves into the hands of Satan. They have officially taken on the mark of the beast through their actions against Christ and the Holy Spirit. How did they do this, by proclaiming that Christ performed miracles by the power of Beelzebub.
Christ had warned them of their blindness. He had warned them of their judgment. He had warned them of the presence of the kingdom of God. But they did not listen. They did not hear. They did not understand the truth. For they were fearful of loosing their positions. They were fearful of loosing their power. They were fearful of loosing their authority over the people. And it was this fear that led them to bring upon themselves the curse proclaimed by Christ. For the battle continued. The lines were drawn and the sides were chosen. The Pharisees chose their side in the battle and they chose to fight against Christ. Christ had told them that they were either against him or they were with him. There was no in between. They were there to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel or they were there to scatter the sheep. It was simply a matter of black and white. There was no grey. The tree was either good or bad. Christ said to them, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad for by the fruit the tree is known."
Long had the Pharisees been in power. Long had they exercised authority over the people. Long had they led the people in the ways that were of their own making. And the devil came. They devil crept into their midst. The devil slowly and steadily grew on them such that they began to change to his ways and forsake the ways of God. Greed took over. Lust brought her chains into the temple and enslaved the leadership. Vanity prevailed. Corruption was brought in. And all manner of evil began to surface and become part of the rank and file of the Pharisees. And Satan had his grip upon them, that their passions and desires blossomed fully without check. And Christ came into the picture. Christ began to preach. Christ spoke against them. And Christ proclaimed the curse upon them that they spoke with their own mouths.
The Pharisees lived in luxury. The Pharisee lived in honor and respect of the people. They enjoyed favors and privileges that were given to no others. And it was those same favors and privileges, that same honor and respect, that brought them to their downfall. They did not want to change. They did not want to relinquish to a higher authority. They wanted to hold own to their positions despite the decrees of the higher authority. For God declared the end of their reign. God declared the beginning of a new time. God proclaimed the judgment and the sacrifice of the lamb to justify the people. God proclaimed the end of the reign of Satan on earth.
But Satan continues to influence, even today. Satan continues to creep. Satan continues to steal, and kill, and destroy. For the tree is bad and the fruit is bad of those who follow him. There is no middle ground. Satan would have man believe that there is a middle ground so that he can snatch those who walk the fence. Do you know the fruit of the Spirit? Are you a tree of good fruit or a tree of bad fruit? There is no partial fruit, partially good and partially bad. Do not be deceived by the suggestions of the devil. For he is there to deceive, he is the father of all deception.
Are you with Christ or against him? Are you a scatterer or a gatherer? Know your fruit. Know who you are. Stand up and become a warrior for Christ that your fruit may be known. Put on the armor of the Holy Spirit and take the sword of God that you may fight the temptations of the devil. The devil will deceive you. The devil will lie to you. The devil will steal from you that precious gift of life given you by the blood of Christ. Be not in the world but be in the word of Christ! Be not in the world but be in the Holy Spirit! Know that he will come to you. Know that he will provide for you. Know that he will protect and guide you that you may do the will of God in this world and be blessed with his riches. For God is the owner of the vineyard and all those who produce bad fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Be of good fruit and know who you are!
