THE PHARISEE MUST DIE! By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE
1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:1-3

OBSERVATION
Jesus gives a strong warning to his disciples about never becoming contaminated with hypocrisy like the Pharisees. In this passage Jesus compares their hypocrisy with the yeast used to make bread. Yeast is what is inside the bread, at the very core. The yeast can be bad in the inside, yet the outer appearance of a loaf can be healthy. The Pharisees look very spiritual in the outside, but in the inside they allowed corruption, envy, and jealousy to breed. It's hard to tell when a person has the yeast of a Pharisee. Only God can see through the heart. But Jesus says that one day the inner motives and the truth will be exposed and everyone will know.

APPLICATION
Right now there is a Pharisee growing inside each one of us. By nature, our yeast can be easily polluted . The heart is deceiving and very often, unnoticed, the Pharisee starts invading our minds, asks questions, demands entitlements, becomes judgmental, and very soon our good intentions become overwhelmed by selfishness and jealousy. Oh in the inside, we may look like the most delicious loaf of bread people have seen. But in the outside, our yeast is rotten. There is a Pharisee growing in each one of us. And every single day it grows stronger, more daring, more devilish. How can we get rid of it?

The only solution for this inner problem is death. The moment that this Pharisee's head pops out we need to be quick to cut it off. We cannot tolerate it! We cannot allow him to roam in our minds. We cannot pretend that we can have him under control. We cannot tame it. We can only kill it. Clear and simple.

I can see that Pharisee form the distance. In the outside he looks great, victorious and very spiritual. God uses him to do great things in the church. Fro the distance I can tell that he wears a name tag. And as I get closer to read it and learn his name, I'm shocked. I can see my name on it. It's me. And that Pharisee must die!

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I come to the cross this morning with the intention to bring the yeast of the Pharisee growing in me. He must die in your presence. I refuse to let him breathe. Help me to keep him dead. Instead of trusting so much in the outer anointing that anyone can see, let me focus in the inner anointing that no one can see. Instead of prioritizing in prayer more power to do your miracles, let me prioritize my character to become more like you. Help me to kill the Pharisee within me so Christ has all the room to grow in my heart. Amen!