Daily Devotional, Year 3 – September 17 (The City of Morality, Part 7: “The Sadducees of Prosperity”)
By admin On February 16th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – September 17
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The City of Morality,
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Part 7:
“The Sadducees of Prosperity”
To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality)”
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“This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud…
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…
Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.”
2nd Timothy 3:1, 2, 4, 5
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In the companion article on September 13th, “The Pharisees of Prosperity” (click here), it was put forth that some of today’s churches have a form of godliness akin to the Pharisees of old.
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Oh no, today’s phariseeism does not require special schooling nor a uniform religious dress code.
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Nevertheless, the same proud morality still exists, howbeit now cloaked in a “New Testament” garb.
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James Tissot – The Pharisee and Publican – Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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“HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS”
2nd Timothy 3:5
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And because the strict rules and religious forms of these modern-day Pharisees look so close to true Christianity, the multitudes of church attendees are mostly deceived into thinking that God is still blessing those congregations.
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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“FOR THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK…”
2nd Thessalonians 2:7
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But the fact is, the Holy Spirit has been taken out of the midst of today’s churches and denominations, largely because of the prosperity-driven gospels now being preached in this decadent, hedonistic, cornucopian super-society!
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And to fill that void left by the vacated Holy Spirit, the Abomination of Desolation has moved in with “all power, signs and lying wonders”, to, “deceive if possible even the very elect!” (see 2nd Thessalonians 2:2, 9 & Matthew 24:24)
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Hands – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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But today’s devotional is focusing on another group of persons who resisted the words of Jesus during the days of His earthly ministry: the Sadducees.
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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE…SADDUCEES”
Matthew 16:6, 16
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Yes, the Sadducees were another sect of the Jews.
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But instead of being zealous for the law and the power of God as were the Pharisees, the Sadducees were somewhat faithless.
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Oh yes, they had a certain amount of morality.
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And yet, they doubted God’s power and promises. They didn’t believe in angels, nor in the resurrection of the redeemed! This class of Jews were held in bondage to their unbelief!
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They were the ‘deists’ of their day.
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They were the ‘secularists’ of those times.
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Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain
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“O YE OF LITTLE FAITH!”
(see Luke 12:21-32)
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And so it is today! So much of the current-day church-world faithfully attends weekly services.
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And yet, they have little faith that living a Christlike life can fulfill their needs, or bring them peace, contentment, and true joyful living!
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And so, they “heap to themselves teachers having itching ears” who will preach a non-threatening prosperity-driven gospel which allows them to hang on to the tinsel-like treasures and earthy pleasures of this, the Devil’s world! (see 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4)
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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“FOR WITH THEIR MOUTH THEY SHOW MUCH LOVE, BUT THEIR HEART GOES AFTER THEIR COVETOUSNESS!”
Ezekiel 33:31
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Thus, week after week, these sadly deceived ones continue to attend church, and maintain a certain level of morality.
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And yet, these deceived souls return from their Sabbath morning worship only to spend the next six days going headlong and wholeheartedly after the gods of this world: materialism, ambitious & proud careers, copious TV watching, various amusements, surfing the Internet for worldly desires, lavish houses, gardens, vehicles, weekly excursions, sports, hobbies, gratuitous shopping, constant restauranting, pleasure crafts, clubs, parties, holidays, and a host of similar pursuits.
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In other words, they have found what is commonly referred to as, “The America Dream”.
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Multitask – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License
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“…THE FIRE THAT SAYS NOT, ‘IT IS ENOUGH!'”
Proverbs 30:16
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Oh, it’s not that a little bit of some of these above-mentioned pursuits cannot be okay.
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But the carnal human heart has a fire burning within, usually causing these desires to multiply until our devotion to God becomes eclipsed by an overwhelming host of worldly pursuits and earthy passions. (see Luke 21:34-36 & Proverbs 30:15, 16)
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Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.
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“TOUCH NOT; TASTE NOT; HANDLE NOT!”
Colossians 2:21
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And so, instead of a moment-by-moment faith-walk, all such sadly deceived ones attempt to merely live by a certain degree of morality.
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They may stay away from the most awful TV shows.
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They might even work hard at their careers.
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They don’t drink, or smoke, or cuss.
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They claim to believe the Bible only.
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They say their prayers, and even do a daily Bible study.
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They may attend Revelation seminars. They may serve on committees down at church.
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They look at every little misfortune as their tribulational attack by Satan.
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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“HIS ENEMY CAME & SOWED TARES AMONG THE WHEAT”
Matthew 13:25
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And yet in truth, they are actually tares!
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Howbeit, their very moral and religious lives make them outwardly appear to the onlooking world as genuine wheat! (see Matthew 13:24-30)
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And they vainly imagine that their prosperous and proud attainments will attract lost souls into their church. And by their earth-loving example, Satan attracts even more self-seeking pretenders into the churches!
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Nevertheless, to any truth-seeking soul, their world-loving lives are a powerful testimony, that they are void of true communion with God!
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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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MORALITY: JUST A “FORM OF GODLINESS”
2nd Timothy 3:5
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Jesus says…“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”
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As this above verse reveals, it is impossible to be a true disciple of Jesus, while still clinging to the proud and ambitious pursuits and the selfish pleasures of this present fallen world!
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And no amount of correct behavior and morality is sufficient to secure a true relationship with Jesus!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel
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“STRANGERS & PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH”
Hebrews 11:13
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On the other hand, the true people of God have left this ‘City of Destruction’ world (in heart), and are walking upward on the pilgrim’s pathway to th
e ‘Celestial City of God’!
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The world is behind them! Heaven is before them!
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Their gaze is fixed ever-upward!
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The things of the world have grown strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!
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They seek to walk by faith according to every Word of Jesus!
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And they faithfully submit themselves to God’s often painful daily chastening (read Psalm 73).
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“GOOD NEWS” IN A SADD(UCEE) WORLD!
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And the very Good News is that today is still the day of Salvation!
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And whosoever will, can begin to cry out for God’s grace, and continue to do so until the bright beams of Heaven begin to shine in that Salvation-seeker’s hungering soul!
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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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And when that seeker’s glorious day of Salvation finally arrives,
this song will joyfully be sung…
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“I waited patiently for the LORD;
and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit,
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock,
and established my goings.
And He hath put a new song in my mouth,
even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear,
and shall trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:1-3
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TO READ PART 8, CLICK HERE…
November 1 (The City of Morality, Part 8: “Living The Dream!”)
Woman in Mediterranian – Wikigallery – US Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Drive out all my foolish earthly desires! Purify my heart. Give me the mind of Christ, so that I too can become a 100% seeker of Christ…
Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)“ or you can also read… May 25 (The Natural Man’s Prosperity Gospel, Part 2: “Peace, Prosperity, Health & Family Values”)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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THE SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)
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LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE
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The 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down. But this photo and this sketch (below right) are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the full Moon actually appears.)
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The 3rd face is the most difficult to see in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy. This face is like a furry creature of the field. Maybe a rabbit. Maybe a squirrel. Perhaps a chipmunk. Probably a mouse. All “seekers”; all foragers and scavengers.
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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.
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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate. This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily. This enhanced sketch to the above right is merely to help you to see this face more easily. (As already stated, this 3rd face appears right side up in the southern hemisphere.)
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LOCATING 3rd FACE AT BEGINNING OF NIGHT
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But this sketch here to the right is how this 3rd face actually appears when the Full Moon is in the east, at the beginning of night, in the northern hemisphere. But all you can readily see is this 1st face.
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What you must do to see the 3rd face is to tilt your head to the right, 90 degrees.
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Do you see it? (You may find it easier if you just turn your screen on its left side, if you are using a laptop. But please don’t do anything to put your computer in jeopardy!)
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The easiest time of the month to actually see this face is when the Full Moon is in the east, just after dark. It then can be seen by tilting your head 90 degrees to the right. But as night progresses, the Moon rotates clockwise, until this face is completely upside down, as the Moon works its way to the west.
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Moon into Blood Trilogy: 3rd Face: The Sadducee Seeker
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TOMORROW:
September 18 (The Pre-Trib Rapture, Part 6: “The Last Trumpet” CONTINUED)
Angel with trumpet – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS IS STUDY #258 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.