Matthew 15:10, 11
Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it."
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2840
Defiled: to make common
From the Greek word 'koinoó' (pronounced koy-no'-o): I pollute, make unclean, desecrate; I regard as unclean. Treating what is sacred as common or ordinary.
From the Greek word 'koinoó' (pronounced koy-no'-o): I pollute, make unclean, desecrate; I regard as unclean. Treating what is sacred as common or ordinary.
WORLDLY DIET & EXERCISE
Touch Not, Taste Not
1 Timothy 4:3
3. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Self Discipline For Personal Gain
1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
GODLY DIET & EXERCISE
Taste The Word
Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.
Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
23. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
24. and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25. In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Exercise Godliness
1 Timothy 4:8
8. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
WORLDLY WISDOM
Colossians 2:20-23
20. If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
21. “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?
22. These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
23. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
GODLY WISDOM
Job 28:28
And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.
EXERCISE GODLINESS
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
So, how can we live a godly life in this day and age? For many are offended at the least little thing. A man's article of clothing is resented by those around him who demand he remove it 'because it's offensive' to them. Everything a born again Christian does or says is going to offend someone somewhere. That's just the way it is when we faithfully follow Christ and we need to accept that as fact.
The Bible tells us that the very name of Christ is offensive, that the gospel of salvation through Christ offends other religious factors. If you want to live a life that offends no one, then you will offend God, but I'm determined not to walk that path, for that way only ends in God's wrath and eternal damnation.
Being obedient to the moving of the Holy Spirit on our lives is of more value than being obedient to the offended spirits who control the people who obey those spirits. The spirit of antichrist is any person who rebels against Christ.
Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."
Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible."
Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible."
1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons."
1 John 2:18 "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour."
But, remember that you are valuable to God (Matthew 10:31) and blessed.
Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
Matthew 10:22 "You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
1 Peter 4:14 "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
Come, let us taste of this Word which The Lord our God has given us today. Let us pray together for understanding The Word. It is bittersweet: bitter to the hearing yet sweet to the tasting. The result is the betterment of our souls. We are enriched.
Lord, increase our faith. Help us to live godly lives which glorify You and humble us. Spirit, lead us in godly wisdom that our souls may prosper, even as The Word prospers in us.
In Jesus' Name, we pray,
Amen.
