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…
For men shall be lovers of their own selves…
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 pharisaism does not require special schooling nor a uniform religious dress code.
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Nevertheless, the same proud self-righteous 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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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, many church-attendees 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, etc….
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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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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 oft-painful daily chastening (read Psalm 73).
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“GOOD NEWS” IN A SAD-DUCEE 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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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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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping
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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping October 18, 2002 (youtube.com)
Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio
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