Pride will keep you from knowing and understanding the truth in God’s word from the mouth of two or three witnesses.  Most modern-day religious people feel comfortable in their numb state of following religion.  If these prior sentences offended you, then that is your pride getting in the way of your walk with the Lord.   

Pride will prevent you from having a relationship and walking in the light of our Lord God.  Pride will prevent you from having a glorious life with God in heaven.   Pride comes in all shapes, sizes and financial levels.  Modern day religions do not focus on your pride which is keeping you from having a glorious life with God.  Instead, they focus on the works of religion, building the physical church and presenting you a set of spiritual verses with a promise of salvation or being saved.   Pride has put more souls in hell, than the devil himself!  

Jesus made it clear in his parables that a rich man will have trouble entering the kingdom of God.  God made it clear in these three verses that it is impossible for man to save and it is only possible with God.  (See verses Luke 18:25-27, Mark 10:25-27, Matthew 19:24-26)

Luke 18:25-27 – For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

It was clear in the 50+ church witnesses that I performed from September of 2023 to April of 2024, that rich men were welcome into the churches.  Promises of salvation or being saved were made by your participation in water baptism, knowledge of a couple of bible verses and the offering of tithes and donations to the church.   Modern day salvation message for men’s religion is easy!    Love yourself and you can have it all.   This is an oxymoron to God’s salvation message brought to the earth by Jesus.

God wants one thing.   Your heart!  If your heart desires the self-serving love of money, then there is no room for the love of God and the love of your neighbor.  God is looking for your heart and your walk to be pure – following after righteousness, peace and holiness. 

1 Timothy 6:10-12   For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hebrews 12:14 – Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Jesus was clear in his testimony.  If you want a relationship with God, then “follow me.”  See verses Matthew 19:16-21, Mark 10:17-21, Luke 18:18-22)

Matthew 19:16-21 – And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

God’s gospel boils down to three words.

“Love thy Neighbor.”  

If you say you love God and hate your neighbor, then God’s love is not in you.  The rich man loves money more than anything else.  God knew his heart and said to follow him.   He knew the rich man would choose his money.  You either have empathy and the love of others or you don’t.   Being born again is about being born as a new man with the love of others.  Saving the world is only possible by loving your neighbor.   By you following the doctrine that Jesus presented and doing the will of God from the heart, is exactly what God is looking for.  In this next parable that Jesus taught, who’s action was favorable in the eyes of God:  the priest, the Levite or the Samaritan.  

Luke 10:25-37 – And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

The religious works and worship by the priest and Levite did nothing in changing their heart to loving the things of God!  Without expecting anything in return, the Samaritan loved his neighbor from the heart! 

James cautions the rich man. 

James 5:1-2 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

Jesus was clear in his last message to Peter.  Jesus told Peter not to worry about how anyone else is serving God.  God just wants you to follow the gospel that Jesus brought to this earth. 

John 21:20-22 – Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

God is looking for the humble and not the proud.  A humble man can be taught to live the will of God as taught out of the mouth of two or three witnesses.  In this following parable, the proud Pharisee will never stoop to do the will of God. 

Luke 18:9-14 – And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

God is looking for your heart.  Humble yourself and begin your walk as a little child.  Do not be fooled by religious acts of man and your religious past.  Repent of your sins, surrender and give your heart to God.  When you heart is right with God, you look for ways to do works, serving God and neighbor.  With a humble spirit, look for ways to serve him, loving your neighbor and spreading the truth in God’s word out of the mouth of two or three witnesses. 

Proverbs 16:18-19,25 – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

What seemeth right to a man in this single witness testimony on grace is salvation without works.   

Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In my 50+ church witnesses, one of the pastor’s spoke on being saved.  He testified that Mother Theresa was not in heaven because she relied on good works to get her there.  Mother Theresa never spoke on being saved.  Mother Theresa didn’t need to speak on being saved.  She lived the life of the Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.   She judged no one and loved everyone, as a perfect example of compliance to the God’s Gospel of Love, brought to this earth by the prophets.  With a humble spirit, following repentance of sin, you are God’s workmanship unto good works. 

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Unto good works is a testimony of multiple witnesses.   If you love God, then you do good works. When you follow Jesus, you do good works.

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

John 10:32,37-38 – Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Matthew 16:27 –  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Faith without works is dead.  If you know God, then your works will not deny him. 

James 2:19-22,24-26 – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Titus 1:16 – They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

May your walk with God, worship him in deed and truth unto good works! 

1 John 3:17-18 – But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth.

2 Timothy 3:17 – That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.