There are two kinds of influences – positive and negative. Both the power of evil and the power of God have the capacity of multiplying and spreading virally.
Overview
Introduction
Some Religious Leaders – The evil virus
Upcoming Disciples – The ineffective vaccine
Growing Disciples – The powerful vaccine
Bible Passage
Matthew 16:9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Bible Passage
Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
Introduction
Jesus warns His disciples of the negative effect of most of the Pharisees and Saducees and reminds them of the power He has shown to multiply bread.
Some Religious Leaders - The evil virus
It works like leaven (yeast)
Just a few bad people mixed in a lot of good ones make the whole lot bad
They twist God’s law to their own version
They oppress those who don’t follow the contortions
They major on minors and miss the majors
They misuse their God given authority for selfish purposes
Rather than draw people to God they draw them away
Some Religious Leaders - The evil virus
Some Religious Leaders - The evil virus
Where does the greatest danger lie? In the secular world?
In this passage Jesus highlights some religious leaders as most dangerous in terms of spreading corruption.
Today Christians divert issues to the Government failure, persecution, etc, etc.
When it comes to standing up and help sanctify our own churches and hold people accountable, many remain silent.
Upcoming Disciples -The ineffective vaccine
Mark 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
Upcoming Disciples -The ineffective vaccine
Upcoming Disciples -The ineffective vaccine
When Jesus heard “bread” he thought of the multiplication effect of yeast
and similar viral effect of the Pharisees’ false teachings and lives.
The disciples on the other hand thought of food and the stomach.
Jesus calls them “blind” and “hard hearted”.
When are we ineffective?
When our thoughts are largely on earthly things
When we leave all the good works to Jesus
The disciples failed at times in casting demons, feeding 5000, walking on water, etc.
When we are good followers of Jesus but miss out on big things God wants to do through usas his disciples did in the early stages.
. The “big” things we see are not the ones God sees.
Oft Misquoted scripture
These scriptures are often used in a carnal and material context:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)
“I was hungry and you fed me” (Matthew 25:35)
“as much as you do to the least of these my brethren you do it to me” (Matthew 25:40)
“all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28)
“blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)
And many others….
Oft Misquoted scripture – What they really mean
“I can do (endure not achieve) all things through Christ who strengthens me”
“I was hungry (spiritually) and you fed me”
“as much as you do to the least of these my brethren (spiritually weak not materially poor)”
“all things work together for good (for those who love God and serve Him according to His purpose)”
“blessed are those who mourn (lament over our sin) for they shall be comforted”
Open the eyes of our Heart
Let us ask God to OPEN our eyes
As we SEARCH for the TRUTH
In His WORD
AGAIN and AGAIN
Open the eyes of our heart
Popular Teachings
To what kinds of meetings do the biggest crowds go?
What are the teachings that gather the largest audiences?
In the latter half of the 20th century there was an evangelistic revival. Evangelism was a powerful viral influence on the world
In the early part of the 21st century, it’s all about health, and prosperity.
Sin and its associated symptoms is hardly dealt with.
Growing Disciples -The Powerful vaccine
As they grew and came full circle under Christ’s guidance, they transformed.
They taught Christ’s truths
They started the viral growth of the Kingdom of Heaven – spreading the “Bread” of life just as Jesus did.
Growing Disciples -The Powerful vaccine
The Parallel Warfare
Covid 19 gives us a glimpse of the danger of a deadly virus and the need for an effective vaccine.
Jesus warns the disciples that of the deadly opposition which will grow and multiply.
He also reminds them that the Kingdom of God will also grow and overcome this deadly evil.
However warfare will exist
between the two.
Wherever the power of the
Holy Spirit dominates, there
will be victory.
Discussion
1.What are some symptoms that show us that we are not yet growing adequately in the faith?
2.What are some destructive thought patterns that bind us to thinking carnally?
3.How do we ensure to be useful “vaccines” against the prevalent evils around?