Today we learn to do surgery without physical bleeding or pain. What comes out of a man that defiles a man? Mark 7:20
Mark
21-23 For from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these
evil things come from within and defile a man.
Mark
7:6-9 Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me,
and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of
men -the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you
do, all too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep
your tradition.
Mark 7:13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down, and many such things you do.
Jesus
taught that there is nothing that enters a man from outside which can
defile him; but the things that come out of Him, those are the things
that defile a man. Mark 7:15
He spoke of the reason of the defilement: men make the word of God of no effect through their handed down tradition.
Tradition
of men become their commandments. When men uphold tradition, which is
all externally focused, men actually reject God’s commandment, which is
inner focused.
External
matters keep the physical aspects of men clean. But they cannot clean
the inside of men. God looks at the heart of men and not the external
activities. The inside of men, including, the mind (thoughts) and
emotion remain unclean unless washed by the word of God. Ephesians 5:26
The word of God washes and sanctifies us our hearts. The word
of God does effective surgical operation on us, piercing to the
division of soul and spirit, discerning thoughts ad intents of the
heart. Hebrews 4:12
The word of God profits those who hear them with faith. Heb 4:2
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Heb 11:3
Jesus told His disciples that the words
that He spoken (which did the works of God) were spoken on God’s
authority. God actually dwells in Him and does the works. John 14:10
When a believer keeps God’s commandments (God’s word),
two things happen: the Holy Spirit dwells with him and will be in him;
God the Father and Jesus the Son will come to him and make their home
with him. The Holy Spirit will teach him all things, guide him into all
truth, tell him things to come. John 14:15, 17, 23, 26; 16:13
Jesus prayed to God to sanctify His disciples by His word, which is truth. John 17:17
God’s words not only sanctify a believer, God’s words mixed with faith are the specified conditions for one to receive answer to one’s prayer. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
When we read and hear the words
of God and believe, we are being cleansed. We are required to keep them
continuously to remain clean and being in fellowship with God. Jesus
reminded thus of His disciples,
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” John 15:3
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My
love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His
love.” John 15:10
Jesus prayed to God about his disciples having received and kept the word, in John 17 in the following very crucial verses:
4
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You
have given Me to do.
6
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of
the world. They have kept Your word.
7
Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from
You.
8
For I have given to them the words
which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known
surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You
sent Me.
14
I have given them Your word;
and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just
as I am not of the world.
15
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
You should keep them from the evil one.
16
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word
is truth.
18
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be
sanctified by the truth.
20
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in
Me through their word;
21
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
sent Me.
What did Jesus say in these verses?
He had finished the work God gave Him to do on earth. The work glorified God.
What was the work He referred to in this context? He has manifested God to the disciples.
The disciples heard the word of God through Jesus, believed and kept the word.
By doing so they no longer belonged to the world and the worldly
system. The world therefore hated them. The world runs on the
commandment s of the evil one. The evil one uses lies and deceptions to
subject his subjects to bondage. People are defiled by such stuff living
inside of them, just as what Jesus had exposed in Mark 7:6-23 on the
inner defilement of men. Take heed that Jesus Himself sanctified Himself
by the word. Jesus’ prayer applies to all who believe. God’s words cleanse and sets us apart from the world.
By hearing, believing and keeping God’s word in us, we are joined to the Lord and are one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
By this we abide in Jesus. John 15 (on vine and branches)
Jesus thus promised those who believe in Him: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 8:31-32
The word of God is powerful. “But 