C H O F Ministry

Tag: Pharisees

  • “Yeast Helps Skepticism to Rise”

    10 27 2019 week 2 Bishop Houston's Sunday Morning Mark 8 1 thru 21
    If you’ve ever baked bread, you know that yeast is a key ingredient. It’s amazing how a bit of granulated yeast is so powerful. It lives, it’s active, and it’s essential for baked bread to rise. In this morning’s passage, it uses yeast for caution about disbelief.

    Beloved, at this point in Mark’s narrative, you would hope the disciples could identify the pattern in Jesus’ ministry and learn. If you compare the accounts of the feeding of the 5,000 and then the 4,000, in Mark 6:35 and Mark 8:4 both of them have many similarities. In both, they describe the setting as a “remote place.” In both events the disciples encouraged Jesus to “send the people away” (*1) and to “send them home hungry” (*2). In both encounters, the disciples asked about the shortage of “bread” (*3). And even if the disciples didn’t recall the comparison of the words within these two conversations, you would think when Jesus asked the same question (“How many loaves do you have?”) they would have recalled the feeding of the 5,000 (*4).
     
    Instead of saying, “Hey, wait a minute. This should be no problem for you,” they didn’t seem to understand. When Jesus directed the crowd to “sit down,” there was another opportunity for the disciples to trust Jesus. Just as He had done in the past, He would again use their insufficient resources to show compassion for the huge crowd.
     
    As you can see Beloved, they apparently bought into the uncertainty or “yeast” of the Pharisees and didn’t understand Jesus’ true identity. Yet, just as Jesus rejected to give the Pharisees a sign from heaven to appease their skepticism, He also warned the disciples against adopting the Pharisees’ position of unbelief. Beloved, disbelief, like yeast, can grow and multiply. It requires faith to recognize that Jesus is God the Son.
     
    Let Us Pray:
    Dear Heavenly Father, once again we thank You for Your words of Wisdom. This morning we’ve added faith as we rise and prepare for our Sunday journey. Our belief is in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen and Amen.
     
    Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind may enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! – Have a “Blessed” Sunday.
     
    CHOF Ministry Cross-Reference Verses:
    *1. Mark 6:36
    *2. Mark 8:2-3
    *3. Mark 6:37 & Mark 8:4
    *4. Mark 6:38 & Mark 8:5

  • “Not Popular?”

    10 4 2019 Bishop Houston's Weekend Words Isaiah 54 17.png
    Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Friday. 😀

    You know at times, Not being popular, disliked, ostracized, hated can be a good thing, especially when you’re not following the crowd because you know their objectives are misguided or just plain foolish. Also, there are times when the Holy Spirit convicts you to take a stand to speak the truth in love. But let me also add here that you’re not a witness for Christ either when you’re consumed by being righteous and full of pride. This doesn’t serve as an example of Christ-like behavior.
     
    Believers in the Christian faith should never act like the Pharisees who were righteous frauds. They were filled with deception and scams. They were hypocrites whose hearts were far away from God. In contrast to them is Jesus. He was kind and gentle and came to heal the brokenhearted – “unpopular, disliked, ostracized and hated.” So, don’t be concerned about being politically correct and possibly dishonoring God in the process. You see, when you take a strong stance for the truth according to God’s Word, God will bless you. 😀
     
    It isn’t always necessary for you to be argumentative just to prove your point. There are times when you have to speak up and times you know to hold back or shut up. God doesn’t want you to be in constant conflict with others. Proverbs 15:1 (AMP) tells us: “A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.”
     
    Beloved, this weekend, take a chance and just stand on the Rock. You’ll find that it’s the correct choice. God is real and He wants to be your firm foundation. And if this makes you unpopular, disliked, ostracized, hated – “So Be it!!!” – It could be a good thing.
     
    Weekend Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to remember the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven “IS NOT” attained by popularity. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen and Aaamen.
     
    Have a blessed Friday and a “Great” Weekend Everyone!!! 😀

  • “Stay Humble – God Will Expose”

    9 13 2019 Bishop Houston's Weekend Words God Will Expose Luke 18 14
    Praise the Lord Beloved!!! 😀 The soul of Friday is here. Let us all be attentive to our persona according to God’s purpose.

    Beloved, God’s focus is in the heart of man and not on their external or superficial appearance and accomplishments in life. You’ll find in this morning’s parable; Jesus Christ equated the tax collector and the Pharisee. The tax collectors are publicly known as sinners for their dishonesty when they’re collecting taxes. They’re called thieves because they steal money from people. The Pharisees on the other hand, are publicly known as holy, righteous and law-abiding people. They openly display their religious acts such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. People looked up to them and were impressed by their deeds, but God wasn’t. When Christ came, He began to expose their private sins, their pride, and self-righteousness.
     
    In this morning’s parable, we find the Pharisee began to brag about his righteous acts while the tax collector humbly admitted his wrongdoing and ask for God’s mercy. So we see, God, honored the prayer of the tax collector, but He hated the self-aggrandizements of the Pharisee. Beloved, God will eventually expose anyone that postures themselves arrogantly, snobbishly, self-righteously, and barbarous.
     
    This weekend Beloved, let us all keep in mind that no matter who we are or what we do, God is willing to accept us if we humble ourselves and submit to His mercy.
     
    Weekend Prayer:
    Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for repeating to me about being proud and why it doesn’t give You pleasure or glory. Help us to stop looking at our divine accomplishments and start focusing on Your boundless love, mercy, and grace.
    In Jesus’ Mighty name I pray, Amen and Aaamen.:-D
     
    Have a wonderful Friday and a blessed weekend everyone.

  • “God Loves You on The Inside”

    Bishop Houston's Weekend Words Luke 18 14
    Praise the Lord Beloved!!!

    It’s a joy to be counted among the ones who live.
    Beloved, do you belong to a church or ministry that focuses on how a person dresses. I’m speaking of the spiritual edifices where high class fashion is God first. If you’re not wearing the top of the line suits, dresses or hats you’re frowned at or looked down on. Beloved, God looks in the heart of man and not at their external appearance and achievements in life. This morning’s scripture is a great parable. Jesus Christ linked the tax collector and the Pharisee together. The tax collectors are publicly known as a sinner for their dishonesty in collecting taxes. They’re called thieves because they steal money from people. The Pharisees on the other hand, are publicly known as holy, righteous and law-abiding people. They openly display their religious acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity. Many people who looked up to them were impressed by their activities, but God wasn’t. When Christ came, He exposed their private sins, their pride, and self-righteousness. In this morning’s parable, the Pharisee began to “brag” about his righteous acts while the tax collector humbly admitted his wrongdoing and asked for God’s mercy. God honored the prayer of the tax collector, but he hated the self-aggrandizement of the Pharisee.
    Beloved, you don’t have to wear the top of the line attire or achieve the highest honors to be acknowledge by God or any authentic spiritual Bible based edifice. If you’re required to, then it’s time to find an authentic Bible based spiritual edifice.
    As we go into this weekend let us all remember that no matter who we are or what we do, or what we wear, God’s willing to accept us if we humble ourselves and submit to His mercy. Amen – Aaamen. 😀
    Let us Pray:
    Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a recap about shady selfish pride that doesn’t give You pleasure or glory. Help us to stop looking at our spiritual achievements and start focusing on Your great love, mercy, and grace.
    In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen and Aaamen.
    Have an Awesome Friday and a Great Weekend.

  • “It’s All About The Message”

    Praise the Lord Beloved.
    Jesus came to this earth and lived His earthly life as an everyday down to earth person. He didn’t wear the fancy head wear nor the pompous attire the Pharisees and the Sadducees wore. He’s not recognize by the fancy high dollar suites and ties nor the high class living conditions.

    Today, Jesus is recognized for His love and compassion and the Good News He brought and spread all across the world.

    Have a blessed day Everyone.
    Jesus and Bishop