Growth The Power of Simplicity

[Sandy Zalecki]

"Then one of the scribes came, and..asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Mark 12:28

"Few people take time to study the US Internal Revenue Service income tax regulations--and for good reason. According to Forbes magazine, in 2013 tax codes surpassed the four million-word mark. In Fact, the tax laws have become so complex that even the experts have a hard time processing all the regulations. It's burdensome in its complexity.

The religious leaders in ancient Israel did the same thing in their relationship with God. They made it too complex with laws. The growing burden of religious regulation had increased to the point where even an expert in Moses' law struggled to understand its core. When one such leader asked Jesus what mattered most in the Commandment, Jesus responded, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

The law of Moses was burdensome, but faith in Christ is simple and His "burden is light" (Matt. 11:30). It's light because God was willing to forgive us and love us. Now He enables us to love Him and our neighbor.

 

[Edward]

"Then one of the scribes came, and..asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Mark 12:28

"Few people take time to study the US Internal Revenue Service income tax regulations--and for good reason. According to Forbes magazine, in 2013 tax codes surpassed the four million-word mark. In Fact, the tax laws have become so complex that even the experts have a hard time processing all the regulations. It's burdensome in its complexity.

The religious leaders in ancient Israel did the same thing in their relationship with God. They made it too complex with laws. The growing burden of religious regulation had increased to the point where even an expert in Moses' law struggled to understand its core. When one such leader asked Jesus what mattered most in the Commandment, Jesus responded, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

The law of Moses was burdensome, but faith in Christ is simple and His "burden is light" (Matt. 11:30). It's light because God was willing to forgive us and love us. Now He enables us to love Him and our neighbor.

Interesting sister. I own a copy of the tax code, and have read it until I got a headache. Anything so complex is assured to have deception within. Such is the reason for the complexity. The IRS, like the ancient religious leaders had a motive for the complexity. To dumbfound and instill fear, for the money and control.

The IRS's stance on any issue, is, well, you're better off just writing a check than to fight it. The ancient religious leaders were somewhat of the same. They didn't want people to comprehend it, they wanted them coming to them for the interp and guidance. I bet most of the time their answer was, well, brings us seven oxen and some silver and we will make it right with the Lord for you. lol.

What we know nowadays is that the simplicity of the Gospel is for everyone, and anytime that you see something getting complex...there's a red flag for you. Now of course there is a lot to know and one could study the actual scriptures for a lifetime and not comprehend it all, however, the light at the end of the tunnel is that, we do not really need to be able to fully comprehend God and His ways to be able to draw close to Him and receive our redemption and blessings. because we have the Holy Spirit within us. He is the great comforter and lead us in righteousness while we have very little comprehension at all. Like a little child holding his daddy's hand.

In OT times, they didn't have the benefit of the Holy Spirit. Those must've been hard times. In the church age, the religious leaders are largely out of a job, for we can go directly to the throne room of God in prayer and receive our instruction. Pastors are fighting to keep their positions of power and jobs. One way to recognize that a deception may be in the air is the presence of a complex long winded diatribe which "explains" a simple verse out of scripture. This is the only way they have nowadays to twist scripture into something they like and is useful for them. There's going to be an awful lot of lawyers in hell.

 

[iLOVE]

When you love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind....we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. If you are not in love with our Father, then you have just identified everything that is wrong with your life.

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NLT

Have you discovered it?

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

Interesting sister. I own a copy of the tax code, and have read it until I got a headache. Anything so complex is assured to have deception within. Such is the reason for the complexity. The IRS, like the ancient religious leaders had a motive for the complexity. To dumbfound and instill fear, for the money and control.

The IRS's stance on any issue, is, well, you're better off just writing a check than to fight it. The ancient religious leaders were somewhat of the same. They didn't want people to comprehend it, they wanted them coming to them for the interp and guidance. I bet most of the time their answer was, well, brings us seven oxen and some silver and we will make it right with the Lord for you. lol.

What we know nowadays is that the simplicity of the Gospel is for everyone, and anytime that you see something getting complex...there's a red flag for you. Now of course there is a lot to know and one could study the actual scriptures for a lifetime and not comprehend it all, however, the light at the end of the tunnel is that, we do not really need to be able to fully comprehend God and His ways to be able to draw close to Him and receive our redemption and blessings. because we have the Holy Spirit within us. He is the great comforter and lead us in righteousness while we have very little comprehension at all. Like a little child holding his daddy's hand.

In OT times, they didn't have the benefit of the Holy Spirit. Those must've been hard times. In the church age, the religious leaders are largely out of a job, for we can go directly to the throne room of God in prayer and receive our instruction. Pastors are fighting to keep their positions of power and jobs. One way to recognize that a deception may be in the air is the presence of a complex long winded diatribe which "explains" a simple verse out of scripture. This is the only way they have nowadays to twist scripture into something they like and is useful for them. There's going to be an awful lot of lawyers in hell.

That's the truth. So many pastors stand in the was of the work of the Holy Spirit. They are little kingdom builders of their own and not really interested in building the kingdom of God.

 

[Edward]

When you love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind....we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. If you are not in love with our Father, then you have just identified everything that is wrong with your life.

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NLT

Have you discovered it?

I have discovered it, however, the times which I (rationalize) the priorities of the moment, is the times of not enough faith i am seeing.

That's the truth. So many pastors stand in the was of the work of the Holy Spirit. They are little kingdom builders of their own and not really interested in building the kingdom of God.

That's scary. They haven't thought this through all the way I see. Another similar thing that scares me is the to much who is given, much will be required... precept which is written. Sometimes I find myself thinking 'I don't want to know' but reject that in faith because I know that where the Lord leads us, the Lord will see us through. To reject the Lords wisdom and guidance out of fear is lackadaisical and paranoid.

 

[follower]

That's the truth. So many pastors stand in the was of the work of the Holy Spirit. They are little kingdom builders of their own and not really interested in building the kingdom of God.

.......
That's scary. They haven't thought this through all the way I see. Another similar thing that scares me is the to much who is given, much will be required... precept which is written. Sometimes I find myself thinking 'I don't want to know' but reject that in faith because I know that where the Lord leads us, the Lord will see us through. To reject the Lords wisdom and guidance out of fear is lackadaisical and paranoid.

Yeshua spoke to them directly when He proclaimed a woe to them(judgment, perhaps final if there didn't follow repentance) for, He said, "you have the keys of the Kingdom, but you won't enter in, and the little ones seeking the Kingdom you (try to) prevent..." **
whether they thought it through or not, they chose to not enter His Kingdom, and, perniciously, strove to keep others who were seeking the Kingdom from finding it. the one world government/church in Revelation makes the irs look like kindergarten.

**
Matthew 23:13 - Bible Gateway - BibleGateway.com
Hypocrites! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven and won’t go in yourselves. ...

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

I have discovered it, however, the times which I (rationalize) the priorities of the moment, is the times of not enough faith i am seeing.



That's scary. They haven't thought this through all the way I see. Another similar thing that scares me is the to much who is given, much will be required... precept which is written. Sometimes I find myself thinking 'I don't want to know' but reject that in faith because I know that where the Lord leads us, the Lord will see us through. To reject the Lords wisdom and guidance out of fear is lackadaisical and paranoid.

I know there are some great pastors out there that just love the Lord, but I haven't ran across them lately. The church we go to now is very loving and accepting of others. They love fellowship, but they are afraid of the Holy Spirit so much that they didn't want my husband to play his guitar in the church. The pastor was playing the guitar and he is 85 years old and can't hear. Go figure. The pastor says it is his church and he doesn't want a move of the Holy Spirit. It isn't his church and the Lord can and will take it back any time he wants to.

 

[follower]

In a big overall picture (within our limited knowledge and published/broadcast info)
i can understand the pastors hesitation about any 'new' move.
so many examples are out there, have been out there for the last 50 years, and have been
very much 'not good' for the churches experiencing a 'new move' / different direction ... ...

not that Yhwh's new moves are ever not to be desired, no, not that at all ....

Yhwh's moves are always to be desired, like His Word - more than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb !

but 'new' moves and directions have very often not been Yhwh's doing, but man's or worse.

so the pastor, or elders, or deacons, or men of a church, may first and lawfully (Yhwh's instructions to follow; with discernment, wisdom of experience, and lots of ongoing continuous prayer with thankfulness and seeking His Way)
...they may first and lawfully and prayerfully 'verify' or confirm as they are able that the 'new' move or direction or activity is of Yhwh and timely and good and right for the congregation.

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

In a big overall picture (within our limited knowledge and published/broadcast info)
i can understand the pastors hesitation about any 'new' move.
so many examples are out there, have been out there for the last 50 years, and have been
very much 'not good' for the churches experiencing a 'new move' / different direction ... ...

not that Yhwh's new moves are ever not to be desired, no, not that at all ....

Yhwh's moves are always to be desired, like His Word - more than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb !

but 'new' moves and directions have very often not been Yhwh's doing, but man's or worse.

so the pastor, or elders, or deacons, or men of a church, may first and lawfully (Yhwh's instructions to follow; with discernment, wisdom of experience, and lots of ongoing continuous prayer with thankfulness and seeking His Way)
...they may first and lawfully and prayerfully 'verify' or confirm as they are able that the 'new' move or direction or activity is of Yhwh and timely and good and right for the congregation.

Pastors should know when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit and when they are just trying to fool you. If they don't they aren't being lead of the Holy Spirit. I understand when some one new comes in they should pray and seek guidance.

We have been going to this church for six months and EVERYONE in the congregation wants my husband to play and sing for praise and worship except the pastor. Even the guy that leads the praise and worship wants him to play, by the pastor is intimidated. The congregation out voted the pastor on this one. We aren't going in there trying to turn everything upside down, just have someone play the guitar that can actually hear what he is playing. I don't think that is changing directions, just trying to make things better.

Maybe we need something new because the old way isn't working very well. What do you suggest?

 

[Tony Hyman]

This is not a knock or rant against the Papacy.It could just as well be any Denomination I believe.Evidently this is a true tale regarding silver and gold in Acts 3:6.
A monk showing a visitor round one of the religiuos houses of Spain pointed to the numerous vessels of gold and silver, and remarked,"You see we cannot say with Peter, 'silver and gold have I none.' "

"Neither can you say with him, 'rise up and walk", quietly replied the visitor."
I suppose Tax Laws are the same in most countries, but If my limited knowledge of American History is correct ,I sure it was one of the Founding Fathers(Abams I think) who spelled things out quite plainy in a letter to some friend. "In this world ther are many of which we are unsure.But two things are cirtain "death and taxes" or words to that effect.So they have had well over 300 yrs to compile and perfect those not so user friendly magic forms.

 

[follower]

.......
The law of Moses was burdensome, but faith in Christ is simple and His "burden is light" (Matt. 11:30). It's light because God was willing to forgive us and love us. Now He enables us to love Him and our neighbor.

Where is it written that the law of Moses was or is burdensome ? I don't remember.

it is written of course:
1 John 5:3 RSV;ERV - For this is the love of God, that we ...
1 John 5:3 Revised Standard Version (RSV) 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

and from all of the old and the new testaments, i would say that the law of Moses is from God and is His commandments. and it is true, they have not been burdensome since being born again --- the new heart and renewed mind and spirit born from Him delights in every way to do what Yhwh wants - much more perfectly and completely than as if just by the written law. (or as it is written = the law of the spirit of life in christ jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. pure joy and delight to do the Father's will, right along with persecution, suffering as with Yeshua, and tribulation as His Word also says)

 

[follower]

.....

"Neither can you say with him, 'rise up and walk", quietly replied the visitor.".....

i don't remember your other posts nor the gist of them, but seek first(and only) His Kingdom and all these things(pertaining to salvation now and eternally) shall be given unto you.....
it is true that modern and most religions/denominations have no power to tell someone to
'rise up and walk'.
it is also true that Yhwh's people do. (just they are rare, and it is dependent on Yhwh's grace and decision if you get to find them.)

 

[clark thompson]

Many people do not when the man asked Jesus this refers to over 300 laws contained in the first five books of the bible. Jesus actually gives the two form the law they are not truly knew conmandments as people think.