There is a Scripture that has been laid in my spirit to start with before we go into the message proper. Ephesians chapter 4, from verse 15 to verse 16. The Bible says:
"but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
Listen to MP3 Podcast: TRADITION OF ELDERS VS WORD OF GOD – UPON WHAT DO YOU BUILD YOUR CONGREGATION?
The Bible says in that verse 15, "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—" So, the essence of our gathering is so that we may speak the word of truth, that we may all grow up in Him. Do we understand? And then, eventually, by that effort, we will all be contributing our own share to the growth and development of the body. And when we are talking about the body, we are talking about the Body of Christ. So, perhaps somebody belongs to a denomination, and another to another denomination, we are all working together for the edifying and the growth of the church.
And so, we must not see what we are going to be discussing tonight as somebody trying to speak out of his own glory. This is not about anybody seeking any glory here, this is about us growing together as a church in Him, Christ Jesus. Do we understand that? So, tonight we want to look at what has been titled: Tradition of Elders Vs Word of God. If we want to subtitle it, you can add to this to it: Upon What Do You Build Your Congregation? I am sure this is a challenge to each one of us without exempting any one of us. Let us quickly go to the book of Matthew chapter 15, we will read Matthew 15, Leviticus chapter 15 before we go to other Scriptures. Matthew 15:1-20, the Bible says:
"Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ "
Let us pause a bit in this verse 9, instead of reading to verse 20. What they were supposed to be teaching as doctrine was what we could call the commandment of God, but instead of them doing that; they were going about, moving from places to places teaching the things that men have commanded, not God. Now, if you check what we are focusing on tonight, we are considering the tradition of elders, which is actually summarised in what we concluded with: the commandment of men. The tradition of elders is summarised as the commandments of men, versus word of God. The word of God is the commandment of God.
We are actually looking at commandments; whether you are talking about this side or that side; both are commandments. But their point of origin differs. One originates in men, the other one originates in God. One is for the will of God, the other one is for the glory of man. Do we understand that? But both are commandants. And so, if somebody wants to say "I will know the difference between the commandments of God and the commandments of men when I see the word "thou shall not do."" The fact that it starts with "thou shall not do" and it look like a strong word does not mean it originates from God.
And if it does not originate from God, it is evil for a man to put the same weight on that which does not come from God because even Jesus said in that verse 6, the latter part. It says: "Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition." So, if the commandment of men had had little or no effect on the behaviour of men and the response of the people towards their God, Jesus wouldn't be concerned. But because of this tradition; the heart of men had been a bit shifted from the Lord God and shared or shifted to men. So, the loyalty that people ought to have toward God, the fear that they ought to have toward God, they begin to spread it among the people who claim they are representing God.
You remember in different places God would say "My glory I would share with nobody." And if God won't share His glory with anybody, that includes even His servants. And that is focus of tonight. I am sure many of us have read the Scripture that says "You have made the commandment of God of no effects by your tradition." I am sure many of us have seen that tradition and we have said it is one of the words, maybe said in the beer parlour. It is one of those words that these arrogant forefathers of the Jewish people said. I don't think so! The tradition of elders were the things delivered to them even by the men who represented God.
Now, when I was looking at the dictionary meaning of tradition; I found two things. The second definition has included in it "Theology." And so they wrote, "Tradition is a doctrine believed to have divine authority, though not in the Scriptures." I don't know if you get it? Tradition is a doctrine, is a teaching, or we could even say a gospel that is believed to have a divine authority. It is assumed that it originates in God and then, even the dictionary says "Though not in the Scripture." The question is: What is it that God has said that should carry the weight as the word of God that is not in the Scriptures? Now we would see what is going on now.
They said they are doctrines "believed." So, they are held in high esteem by everyone. It is their doctrines, believed to have divine authority. Now, even though it is believed to have divine authority, does it mean it necessarily have? God said I have not sent these people, yet, they are gone. Now, when you read Jeremiah and Ezekiel; you will see how God was not comfortable with a people who said they are His servants. How a people who are knows as representatives of God who go about deceiving people, cheating people and perhaps, robbing people in the name of God.
So, the fact that someone who represents God speaks, does not mean what he or she has spoken is equal to the word of God. And if you don't get really careful about this; you will hear a word from someone whom you have assumed or known to be a servant of God and you will run with it as though God has commanded you, not knowing that you have simply been commanded by men. Now, very soon you will see that for Jesus to have really been worried over this matter, it is a serious matter. There is a portion of the Scripture when Jesus was talking concerning the Pharisees, He said they refused to enter into the kingdom, yet, they prevent those who want to enter from entering.
So, it means their activities, what they do; are counterproductive to the will of God and to the progress of His kingdom on the earth. These people are associated to God, they are called by the name of God, and yet, the things they do prevents the people from accessing what God has brought for them. And so, a people who builds their lives on the tradition of elders, they will actually believe, because you must not forget what we read earlier; "doctrine believed." They will actually believe they are in the will of God, not knowing they are not. So, there is a responsibility for each and every one of us to begin to review the things I carry about as knowledge; where did it come from?
Who is the origin of my knowledge? Because that was the burden of the message we heard yesterday; the dangers of assumptions. For us to begin to examine our knowledge, do we know the truth or do we know falsehood? Bible says "let God be true and every man a liar." So, it is only the truth that can set free. And Bible speaking concerning Jesus in John chapter 1, it says "He is full grace and truth." So, anything outside of Christ is a deviation from the truth into falsehood. Now at the time when Jesus came, these people refused to accept Jesus and to believe the word of God concerning Him. If they had believed in Jesus, things would have turned out differently.
These people held on to the traditions of elders, which prevented them from entering to the kingdom. That is why we must be careful about the traditions of elders. Now, let me just read Matthew chapter 15 from verse 10 where we stopped.
"When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
In verse 19, it says:
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."
Now please, I want to ask questions. For many of us that have finished reading the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; when it was time for Jesus to be crucified, were the Sadducees and the Pharisees very truthful about their claims about Jesus? In fact, Bible says sometimes they made several false accusations against Him. In fact, after He had resurrected, they paid certain men to say that Jesus did not resurrect. Yet, see what the Bible says. Jesus said: " For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, and he concluded with false witness and blasphemies." They considered that when you are blasphemous, then you are a sinner. But what about them that bear false witness?
You know that even the things they claimed they are doing, they are not really doing it. Now, where we are focusing on is what Jesus concluded with. They accused Jesus about the fact His disciples don't wash their hands when they eat. You could have asked: what brought about that burden to them? Now, if you read the book of Leviticus chapter 15 from verse 1 to the end, you will see the instructions delivered to them as the law for cleaning. Now, somebody has a discharge, you touch what the person touches, you will need to wash yourself and bath thoroughly; and eventually, you will be cleaned in the evening. Now, if anyone of us reads it, and we check our lives, we should all be considered sinners. And I want us to listen very carefully, because that is not the only portion that talks about cleanliness.
But we should ask: those things that were given as commandments; as laws, and the basis for our comparison, we will soon see in Galatians when apostle Paul said that an heir, as long as he is a child, is not different at all from a slave but is under guidance and tutors until the appointed time. So, he concluded by saying that we, even those we are heirs, because we were like children as it were, we were being put under the guidance of the law to guide us. But ultimately, God had a better package for us.
So, in those days, once somebody is classified as an unclean and you mistakenly touch the person's body, you are also declared as unclean. Some people may be unclean for several days, but is that truth for you now? And yet, when they received that time, they held unto it. And so, because they held unto it, they also propagated it. But when God was not speaking, concerning His agenda and how He has come to redeem them from the curse of the law, they refused to listen to the word of God and stick with the tradition. Let us quickly see examples of what Jesus would call tradition in Matthew chapter 5. I am sure many of us are familiar with the Scripture and so, we may jump certain verses. Matthew chapter 5, from verse 17. The Bible says:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
You could be religious, but you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Now, in verse 21, the Bible says "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment." You know, when we were studying yesterday about the dangers of assumptions, we were hearing stuffs like "did God indeed say." But see what Jesus stated in verse 21. It says Now "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder.." Please, is it true that it was said to those of old? Alright! See what Jesus said to them in verse 22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…"
Let us go to verse 27-28. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. In verse 31-32, it says "Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." It has been said, but I say to you.
Verse 33 says "Again you have heard…" So, what is it that we are hearing? In reality, what we have heard is what must be tagged tradition of elders, doctrines, things that have been delivered to the people of old. Our challenge, just like the generation of the Sadducees and Pharisees is that what has been established in the old time, they believe must be established in their own time and must continue to be relevant forever. What God has said is what God had said, God cannot say anything again. Do we understand? What is the difference please, between "It has been said" but "I say."? And if you note what Jesus said, He says "it has been said in the past, don't do this and that.." Those things look like commandments.
Now, if you read what Jesus said.."But I say", those things also look like commandment too, isn't it? It has been said you should not commit adultery and fornication, but I say t you now that if you look at a woman lustfully, you have committed the act already in your heart. So, it means what the word of the Lord is saying is even stronger than what the tradition of the elders is commanding. But the challenge of Jesus is the emphasis of the elders, they are putting so much premium on what was supposed to be to babes. They are making adults to be guided by what was only necessary for the babes. They want adults to pattern their lives after the order of babes.
That is why apostle Paul said it as the Holy Spirit guided him in Ephesians chapter 4, when we read verse 14, it says "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting," Another word for that doctrine is by every tradition of elders. These elders are not unbelievers as we may imagine. They are actually men that have been associated with God, they could even be priests, they could be Sadducees or Pharisees and even in our time, they could be general overseers, senior pastors or resident pastors. The question is: What we are being guided by, what they are given to their congregation; and what they themselves are patterning their lives after; are they the things that God is saying or are they the things that the elders have said?
Before we proceed, let us go to Daniel chapter 2 verse 44 very briefly. The Bible says: "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." It has no expiry date or tenure, it is perpetual. It is perpetual because it does not require any human effort. God said, a stone was cut without human hand and it broke into pieces the kingdoms that were before it, the authorities and the beliefs before it, the tradition before it, it broke it into pieces.
If you read the book of Hebrews, you will see apostle Paul as inspired said if the Old Testament was perfect, there would have been no need for the New Testament. Yet, men want what has been broken into pieces to still be the guard and the guide for their lives. So, they will rather embrace what was delivered to them in the past than receive what is being delivered to them now. So let keep that in our hearts, because the Bible says "and the kingdom shall not be left to other people." Let us receive that phrase, because the previous verse talks about a stone. So, let us go to the book of Isaiah to what and who that stone is.
Isaiah 28:16, the Bible says:
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
God said "I lay in Zion", not somewhere else, but in Zion. And in the book of Matthew chapter 16 from verse 13-20, talking about the story of how Jesus was asking "who do men say that I am." They said "Some say you are this, others say you are that." He asked them further: "Who do you say that I am." And then, the Bible says Peter stood up and said "You are Christ, the Son of the Living God."And He said "flesh and blood has not delivered this to you." And the question is: Please, that thing that Peter said; did Peter read it or hear it from the elders? It was delivered to him on the spot. That is the word of God! What is able to be delivered to you.
But some have held on to certain things that they have heard, and they are resisting what is being delivered. Jesus said to Peter "upon this rock I will build my Church." You know, the subtitle for this message is Upon What Do you Build Your Congregation? Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom; whatever you bound on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Bible says in that Daniel that we read that and the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom. In Isaiah 28, we saw when God said “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,"
So, it began with "the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom", then it came to “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation," Then it now comes to when Jesus Himself, the stone said "I will build my church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it and I will give you the keys of the kingdom." It is my responsibility to build my church, to build my congregation, my flock. But I will give you keys. That is how men have been given the opportunity to partner with Jesus in building the church. Now if you are partnering with Jesus to build a kingdom that thrashes all the kingdoms before it, are you then expected to build that new kingdom with old traditions?
I am sure if some women can go to that Leviticus that we read, you will sure discover that we are really enjoying in Christ Jesus. When a woman is having her period, in fact in those days, she will stay off from people. You don't go close to her, but is that what is happening today? So, we can know that indeed, the old is old. Why is it that when you commit a sin, you don't kill animals for God to forgive your sins? Okay, was it not at a point a tradition? But those things could only cover, they do not cleanse. Now, in Christ Jesus, there is a cleansing ability of God for all human sins. You sin, that sin can be cleansed in Christ. At that time, it was not available.
So, if you listen to what the elders of those days have said and you build your life on that, as soon as you sin against God; you want to do something to wash away your sins. You don't need to do that, Christ has been slained for us. Do we understand our focus? You have a choice to build your life, your marriage, your congregation and your ministry by those old traditions. Let me show you an example of those old tradition. In those days, they came to Jesus and said a woman was found in the very act, but they didn't bring the man who committed the act alongside the woman. That is the tradition of elders. They brought only the woman and said "Moses wrote that when a woman does something like this, she should be stoned to death." What do you say?
The tradition of elders versus word of God because Jesus is the word of God. And the Bible says He bent down and He was writing and then He said "Anyone of you who has not committed any sin, let him be the first to cast the stone." And pricked to their hearts, and their conscience also judging them; Bible says from the elders of them to the least of them, they left. Then Jesus looked up and asked the woman: "Where are your accusers? Where are those that wants to judge your life by their old traditions?" She said "They are no more." Then Jesus said to her "neither do I condemn you." See the word of the Lord: "Go and sin no more."
Please, which of the two scenarios can make a man clean and live a holy life? A woman had sinned and you want to kill her, how can she has a room for second chance? Jesus said "go and sin no more" and there was no mention of her sinning again. There is Mary Madgalene and Bible says from her alone, seven spirits were chased out. If it were to be old traditions, she will be stoned to death. Jesus cast out those demons and they never returned to her. When Jesus resurrected she was one of those who came. Demons were cast out of her and they didn't return, but the old tradition would have had her casted out from among the people.
You should ask which of those two approaches has capacity for transformation of nations? Do we understand what we are saying? The word of God has no room for pampering people. It does not indulge people. it does not say go and sin and grace would abound. The word of God is "God forbid." However, it does not just forbids it, but it also gives you the capacity to live above sin. The desire for sin, He takes it away from you by His word. Now we have seen a few things, but I want us to go to John chapter 21 as we read from verse 15-19 as we join things together by the help of the Holy Spirit. Many of us are familiar with the story, but let me just simply paraphrased it.
Jesus, after resurrection came to His disciples, and then He was addressing Peter. He said "do you love me more than this?" Peter said "Yes I do." Jesus said to him: "feed my lamb." He asked him again the second time, after Peter responded, He told him "Tend my sheep." He asked him the third time, and after Peter responded He said to Him, "feed my sheep." So there is, Feed my lamb, tend my sheep and feed my sheep. and everything is based upon the love of Jesus, in the heart of Peter. If you truly love Jesus, you need to share in His burden because the burden of our Lord Jesus Christ is that you and I be build up. We are the church of Christ.
Everyone across the globe that believes in Jesus as the Lord and saviour is a body of Christ and a member of the church, and Jesus is committed to the building up of each one of us. If you love me more than your own survival and glory then feed my sheep. How do you feed the sheep, with pasture. For us who are not animals, we are fed by the word of God. You cannot feed a people you really love with tradition of elders. It does not produce result. How many of us parents now plan to raise our own children the way our forefathers raised our own parents? The question is: were they exposed to the new things we are exposed to? So, the only time your children will bath is when they go to the river. Will you do that? Imagine the hygiene that they raised their children under. Imagine that when people have malaria, they don't go to the herbalist. What really changed? The reason is because you now know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
The word of God is progressive. You will come to know about the word of God and as you know, you are transformed into the word that you are knowing and then you pattern your life after the transformation. But, does it not look pathetic that people are being built by the things that were delivered in the past, unchallenged? 2 Peter 1:16, don't forget Jesus said to Peter if you love me more than this, do something in my name. 2 Peter 1:16, let us see what Peter said himself. "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
When we were making known Jesus to you, we didn't follow cunningly devised fables. it shows there were cunningly devised fables at that time. I don't know if you understand? If there was no falsehood, he wouldn't have established the truth. We did not follow cunningly devised fables, and when you follow us, you did not follow cunningly devised fables. In the book of Acts of apostles chapter 4, Acts 4:10-12, when the apostles began to the work in the name of Christ; they gathered them, threatened them and they arrested them. And apostle said something that I want us to also see.
"Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Let us jump to Verse 19-21, because they threatened them again after he made that statement.
"But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done."
Do we see that? They said "judge, whether we should listen more to you or to God." Does it not show? Please, if it was not a serious matter for Peter, and his people, would he have made that statement? So, it means the elders wanted them to listen to them more than they listen to God. God is saying to them to do this and that, but the elders is telling them never to use the name of Jesus to do anything. So, they now have a decision to make. Should they listen to the elders or should they listen to what the Lord has said to them.
Indeed God will be speaking to you. Those still, small voices that you hear. Those promptings that you receive in your spirit, God will be speaking to you. And every time God speaks to you, it would be a challenge to choose between what men have said to you and what God is saying to you. If you will move forward indeed, then it would be because you have chosen to lay hold unto the eternal life. There is a man called Gamaliel, he was one of them. at a point he advised his mates to be careful unless they are found fighting against God. He told them that if what the disciples were doing is the will of God, then they can't be stopped. But time would tell whether God told them to do what they are doing or not. Because if it is not from God, they will fizzle out, but let it not be that they are the ones stopping them to advance with the things of God.
We could be associated with God, but we aren't God. We could be men of God or elders in council, you could be a man of God, but you are not the God of man. There must always be a clear difference between your own word and the word of God. I want us to see something in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2. Let us hear apostle Paul side of the whole story.
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God."
Since we have this ministry, we have renounced the hidden things of shame. We have stopped them. He says "not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully." The question is: would he have said that if there was nobody in his generation who were handling the word of God deceitfully? You see, when a man handles the word of God deceitfully, he will still wants you to think what you are hearing is the word of the Lord. That is the issue! If I say "Stand up and go out", you know that is my word. But if I say "thus says the Lord stand up and go out." Are they the same? If you must respond to what you are hearing, which one will you go quickly by?
But many times, God did not say anything but people want people to respond and so, they use the name of God to back up their words. When you read the book of 1 Corinthians 7 from verse 10, you will see where apostle Paul was dealing with people on marriage and he will say at certain times, "not the Lord but I." How many men and women of God would be courageous enough and be honest enough to say what I am saying is not from the Lord but from me? They will not say that as long as they want their pride to be protected.
Because the word of God is quick, is active and sharper than any two-edged sword and it is able to pierce and discern. Yet, they want their own words to be just like the word of God. They want to speak their word into your life and they want something from you as quickly, as promptly as possible. If a man of God says "brother how are you, I think you should sow into my life and ministry, I will be expecting N200,000 naira from you next week; God bless you." You that is something. But if he says "Man of God, how are you, God bless you. There is a word of God in my spirit for you right now; God is telling me now, there is a sowing you must do and all that…because if you do it, that promotion is coming." Who does not want promotion?
Now, which one would you respond to fast? The word of God. But men who cannot allow people to make their own decision, they will rather want to say "God said." Let us from this moment discern every word that we hear. The Berean Christians, each time apostle spoke to the, they will go back to the Bible and confirm it. If there is no basis for it in the Bible, apostle Paul has said his own. If there is a basis for it, then they will accept it. What is it that you are accepting? Are you accepting traditions or are you accepting what the Lord is saying? What can traditions of elders do in your life? Will the tradition establish you? Can the tradition secure you or the word of the Lord?
That is a decision we have to make. I want us to conclude with a Scripture in the book of Acts. Acts of the apostle chapter 15, there is something that we must note there. Acts 15, I will love us to read from verse 22-29 when we get home. But I will read verse 28. Acts 15:28 says "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things." Did we see that? It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. They began with the Holy Spirit because the word of God is delivered to men by the Holy Spirit. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, to the word of God and to us not to lay upon you no more burdens than these necessary.
What does that teach us? When men speak to us and they are speaking by themselves, we should be careful. We should ask questions: is it the Holy Spirit or is it you? Is it the Holy Spirit and you or is it only you without the Holy Spirit? You remember, let God be true and every man a liar. If it is not pleasing to God, let us know, don't make yourself God.
God bless you!