This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Matthew 15:8
Man’s wisdom is at enmity with God. (Romans 8:7)
Grieving the Holy Spirit is not a pleasant experience
You can shake it off but…
it is better to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit
and take the matter seriously as an offense against God
It is not a good feeling to displease God
He has a way of letting you know when you’ve said something
or done something that went against His will for your life
or how you may have hurt someone else
or when you didn’t do something He asked of you
Obedience is better than sacrifice.
While it’s impossible to measure intent in someone else,
we can see the fruit of their lives or the lack thereof:
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:16-20
That’s how we can tell. He said it twice: we know them by their fruits.
Stay away from those who can infect your walk with God in a negative way
I cannot tell you which people might not be sent by God, only God can, so seek Him whether you are in ministry mode, that is, He is using you to reach out to them, or whether they are affecting you in a negative way, that is, their lies are seeping into your heart and mind. A balance may be needed, such as less time with them or something of that nature that will still let you be an affective person for God in their life. This may mean something such as spending less time with them. Prayer, and sometimes fasting, is needed to sort this out. We must stay in the word so that it becomes such a rich part of us that we can recognize His leading.
Jesus let Judas stay around until almost the bitter end
Sometimes these people are in our lives for a time,
then there might come a time when they can no longer tolerate the light
The Pharisees and Sadducees
were always around while Jesus walked on earth
They hated His words so much they plotted to kill Him
and did kill Him
Paul is the most famous converted Pharisee in the Bible
He must’ve heard the disciples preaching, but it took a literal act of God,
who consequently struck Paul with blindness
before he was brought to the knowledge of Christ
If we think of our modern day church now as the Pharisees and the Disciples, it helps to understand
Jesus told us: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another John 13:35
The Pharisees did not walk in love,
they were infatuated with rigid rules and laws
such as not working on Sunday to help someone
Washing the outside of the cup
but not concerned with the condition of their hearts
Jesus looks on the heart
and He has many ways to reach out to and to help people
He is not as concerned with perfection or abiding by the law
as He is with us obeying God and doing our best to do His will
The Pharisees and Sadducees of today are easy to spot because they mix the world’s moral standards into the church. Their righteousness is not based on biblical principles, but rather how the biblical principles fit into the world and they judge you for following biblical principles.
I have two friends who are married and are on the top of the list of Pharisees. They have their rules and laws all together. They accept sin. Their ideals are loving and kind. Those who participate in sin is fine as long as the sinners are not judged. They are very quick to point out Jesus’ words as judgmental as well as anyone who believes His words.
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Mark 8:38
If they really loved people as they say they do, they would tell people the truth: That there really is a Hell, that Jesus the Christ, who died to free them from their sins, does not want their friends to be eternally separated from God.
Scriptural References:
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:8
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. Acts 23:6
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22