Lovers of

Luke 16:13-15 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.”

The Bible says the Pharisees were lovers of money. How do we know we can be lovers of money? How can we know if we may have a Pharisee spirit judging the work of the Lord? 

Jesus was speaking about money as HE gave the parable in Luke 16 about the shrewd manager who had squandered his master's money. When the Lord was teaching this parable, the Pharisees scoffed at Him. They scoffed at Him because they were lovers of money. In other translations, it states the Pharisees were ridiculing and sneering at His teaching. 

In the church, when pastors preach about money in regards to the kingdom of God, there are many Christians who will scoff, judge, or ridicule authority for preaching about money. They will start to scoff and sneer saying that the pastors or preacher wants their money. They will judge the pastors on why they are preaching about money. They will judge on how they think the pastors are spending "their" money. All tithes belong to God. It was never "their" money.

A prideful spirit that loves money will sneer and judge. A humble spirit is always willing to learn and leave the judgment to God knowing that is His business. A prideful spirit will assume the authority of God to place judgment and ridicule. A prideful spirit that loves money will become offended. A humble spirit will listen to the core message rather than trying to discern the motive of the preacher for giving the message. 

Pastor Steve

Can a woman teach?

1 Tim 2:11-15 "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."

What does the "woman" in the bible represent? The woman can represent the church. The Bible references the "woman" as the church. The church consisting of lay believers, lamb (baby Christians), and those who do not yet have spiritual authority. They are considered the "woman" in these verses. Baby Christians and those who have no authority are to learn in quietness and in full submission and they are not allowed to teach or assume authority over a man. 

What does the "man" represent? The "man" represent higher authority. The man or husband is our Lord Jesus who is the higher authority. We are to be led by the Holy Spirit under the authority of Jesus Christ. Those who are appointed to lead God's people are His delegated authority and represent the proxy "man or husband." We are to be in full submission to HIM. In many cases, the baby Christians who can be represented as lay believers or general church members attempt to assume a role of authority and attempt to correct, teach, and even rebuke higher authority. 

Adam being formed first means he has the authority over Eve. The woman was deceived first. Why was the woman deceived? Even today, much of the church is deceived? Why? Because the church or representing lay believers, lambs, and/or baby Christians are assuming a role of authority when they should be first be learning in quietness and submission. The woman needs to be broken first before given authority. Eve should have stayed quiet when a higher authority, Adam, was next to her. Eve should have allowed Adam to speak on her behalf but she replied to the serpent when she should have remained quiet. There is a lesson here for the church in general. 

Much of the church is making the same mistake as Eve. The church filled with lay believers in which most have not even read the whole bible, who are not consistently praying, who are still very carnal minded, are not fully committed to God, and for many who are still living a life of SIN are attempting to assume authority as Eve when they should first learn quietly and learn to submit to authority. 

"But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."

The woman or church must endure suffering as she goes through trails, tests, and tribulation continuing in faith, love, and hope. 

“Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Acts 14:22 AMPC

Pastor Steve