September 24^th

IS TRADITION SABOTAGING YOUR TESTIMONY? (Continued)

Scripture Reading: John 9

9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

     Jesus prayed that we would be one with Himself and the Father. The schism or division seen above is the direct result of man standing between God and His people. Every good and perfect gift is from above. Tradition stands to lose everything when believers walk in the Spirit with the eyes of their understanding opened. After all, who will tradition enslave if all understand their liberty in Jesus?

9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

     The intimidating power of tradition now seeks to ensnare the man. Still whittling away at his testimony, they ask the man a direct question knowing he would be put out from them if he declared Jesus to be the Messiah. The man said, "He is a prophet." The testimony of Jesus works and all we have to do is stick with it. While not declaring Jesus’ Name, God still uses the man’s answer to make a powerful point. The Pharisees were very familiar with what Moses said. By declaring Jesus to be a prophet, there was ground for the Pharisees to take note of Jesus despite the weakening of the man’s testimony. In Deuteronomy Chapter 18 it declares, "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Again it states, "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Moses wrote these words!

Continued