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Bro. Otis Fisher
When the people were gathered together to think, he began to say, This is an evil generation.
They see the sign, and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas, the prophet.
For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninevites, so shall also the
Son of Man be to this generation. He called the generation an evil generation.
Evil because they were seeking a sign. Too many people today, even in the church, even in the pulpits, are seeking after signs.
What is a sign? Well, I think in this case, a sign is something visually you can justify or to accurately have proved something's occurred.
So they're looking for some physical evidence that Jesus is who he says he is in some kind of worldly manner.
That's right. If you listen to radio and television preachers, which we don't, but I can't help but hear, one in particular is seeking a sign, and he preaches it.
He preaches that if you are doing the right things, you'll get wealthy.
They want and expect material, financial, because they ask
God for it. They ask God, and he spent quite a time this morning asking
God, Bill, does it do any good to ask
God a yes? God does not.
He cannot respond to man. What will be will be. If God should do so, then he would be a respecter of the person.
God does not make decisions. Prayer changes nothing except you. Do you believe that,
Russell? Yes, sir. I do believe that. Jesus said the queen of the south should rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them.
For she came from the upmost part of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
What was he talking about? Jesus Christ is greater than Solomon.
Jesus the Christ is here. This was the queen of Egypt that he was referring to.
The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it.
For they repented at the preaching of Jonas. And behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Jonah cast into the sea to save many lives. You remember the story of Jonah and Noah.
Jesus was crucified to save many lives. Jonah in the belly of the whale.
Jesus in the belly of the earth. Jonah cast down on the earth.
Jesus was resurrected. The sign which the
Pharisees here desired of our Savior was a miracle brought by him.
Now, Jesus was willing and able to authenticate his purpose for being here by a miracle.
To confirm the faith in individuals by a miracle. But he would not perform a miracle to satisfy the unbelieving
Pharisees' curiosity. Accordingly, he tells them they should have no other sign than that of his resurrection.
33. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that all which come in may see the light.
The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light.
But when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
There light is darkness. Our conscience is to the soul what the eye is to the body.
Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Now, a strange verse that he said. The light that is in you is darkness.
If thy whole body, therefore, be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light.
As when the bright shining of a candle doth give the light, or altogether enlighten.
When the eye is perfect, it enlightens the whole body. Every object within the reach is as completely seen as if there was an eye in every part.
Think about that. So, the eye is to every part of the body what the lamp is.
He's talking about the eye. And as he spake, a certain
Pharisee besought him to dine with him. And he went in and sat down to meet him.
Now, a rather normal invitation, I suppose. He asked
Jesus to go with him. What that evil generation could not comprehend was that the spirit was the same spirit that once moved upon the water.
The Lord said that there be light and there was light. They had no light within themselves.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first voiced before dinner.
Now, David, do you still hear me? Yes. They had made a law or a rite and tried to bow down, given that they had to voice before dinner.
But that was an external extremity. Christianity is an affair of the heart, not external.
Their washing of the hands was a man -made law. The law was they had made a part of their religion, therefore have nothing to do with it.
But wash your hands. And the
Lord said unto them, Now the Pharisees may clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness, ye fools.
Did not that same, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
Did not God make the outside of you the same as he made the inside?
He made it all. Religion is not a matter of externals.
It's an affair of the heart. It has to be. But rather give alms of such things ye have, and behold, all things are clean unto you.
Now, whatever it is that you have, what we have is not our own to use.
Useless, unless God has his share also. Then we can expect
God to bless it and all things are clean in his sight. If our conscience is right with the
Holy Spirit, that's true. But woe unto you,
Pharisees, for you tithe mint and rue and all and pass over judgment.
And the love of God of what these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone.
We don't have it in this church, but I suppose in this town that they made it.
Someone makes a great show of getting it. I'll give this to the churches that put my name on a pew.
The early church in this country. Old men to the foreigner that said that.
They made a great show of that. By this they gained a reputation of good and can expect favors from the people, from the preachers.
Today, he who gives most and makes it known seems to be favored also.
He makes it all just and just an experience in sin when you do that.
They had false values. He's not saying that it was wrong to tithe, but their wrong was in what they had left.
Giving of your substance will not make you Christian. However, if you love
Jesus Christ, you will give of your substance. Woe unto you,
Pharisees, for ye love the upmost seats and the synagogues and greatness in the markets.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are as graves which appear not.
And the men that walk over you cause others to believe a lie.
I'm going to have to stop here.
They were struck with the letter of 45. I understand you're saying we shouldn't pray to God for thanks, for guidance and so forth.
Talking about prayer at the very beginning. I misunderstand what you said. No. We pray to God in the name of his son,
Jesus Christ. Now, if you're, I'm not saying you are, but if a person seeks worldly goods, he's promised to give us everything.
Prayer is for, it changes you. It does not change
God. Everything has been fixed. Everything.
Your whole life has been fixed in God's plan. I'm not saying to not pray for those things.
But I think as you, Well, thanks be to God.
It's funny, he tells us that a lot of times we pray a myth. That's right.
Salvation comes by prayer. Now, that's one of the parts of salvation.
Just as you're hearing the word is part of salvation. Is there anything else?
Clarence Christmas. Grace is heaven. Father, we thank you for this day that you've given us.
To have the opportunity to come out and worship you. Praise to the Lord. And that we've heard your word being told.
Expounded upon. And clarified so we can understand more. And walk closer with you.
Pray for each and every one of us. As we go about our ways this week. And our work. And whatever we're doing in your will.
That we'll glorify your name. As is now, we pray for the sick. That you'll be with them.
Comfort them. And heal them with thy will. Knowing full well that your will will be done.
In all things. But through prayer we grow closer to you. And it strengthens us.