Test to see if you follow Blind Guides (verses included)
by alan ballou
Blind guides make up their own philosophy based rules, rather than just simply following the instructions that are already in place. Take for example Matthew 23:16-17 below.
Matthew 23:16-18
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? NKJV
Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees over and over because of the extra rules that they came up with. They did follow some of the things that they were instructed to do to the letter, but they ignored what Jesus described as the “weightier matters of the Law.”
Matthew 23:23-24
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! NKJV
The same is true today even in this country. The bottom line is that whoever teaches Christians in opposition to our instructions found in the Bible is without a doubt wrong, regardless of who they are, or how much training they have received.
Extensive training does not equal success. As far as the Christian life is concern, it’s far better to listen to a dumb donkey, who can speak in accordance with the Word of God, than someone with a Ph.D. who can’t tell you what God said.
Why? We’re supposed to recognize true Christians by their fruit, and not their titles (2 Corinthians 5:16, Matthew 7:16), and fruit always includes what we say.
Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” NKJV
I told one pastor that he was going to have to start over, and I meant starting over with the Bible. I suggested having everyone step out outside, and telling them that anyone who accepts and believes what is actually written in the Bible, is welcome back in.
Why? There were so many false doctrines that the people had come to believe, and every little group within the group had their own set of beliefs.
In the end, we’re not going to be able to say, “But that’s what they told me,” or “That’s what I believed!” We are either Christ followers (Christians Acts 11:26), or we are not. We are either believers, or we are not, and as believers it is our responsibility to test everything we hear (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Let me give you a few facts about the people who are going to Heaven.
#1 They believe Jesus Christ. All people who call themselves Christian will tell you that they believe Jesus, but remember “blind guides” only teach bits and pieces of what they are supposed to preach.
Therefore, if you believe Jesus Christ, then you believe that those who do not abide in Him will be cast out, thrown into the fire, and burned, according to the Words of Jesus Christ, written in John 15:1-6.
John 15:1-6
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
Check those verses from your version of the Bible, because you see most church attending people in this country not only do not believe Jesus, but they have also made up their own un-written philosophy based doctrines to follow, just like the Pharisee of old.
If you believe Jesus, then you should know how to abide in Jesus. No, “go have a personal relationship with Jesus” is not written in the Bible. It’s philosophy, and if that was your answer then you have been taken captive by it.
Colossians 2:8
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. NKJV
Be honest with yourself because if you do not know how to abide in Jesus, and you have been attending church services for more than a few weeks, then you are following blind guides, who travel the world to win a single convert, just to make him a son of hell with their philosophy.
Matthew 23:15
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. NKJV
Imagine this. If John 15:1-6 is true, then only a few church attending people today will make it, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ said would happen.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. NKJV
Jesus declared that many will take the path that leads to destruction, and only a few would take the right path. You cannot identify the right path by the majority. If anything, the opposite is true.
Again in Luke 13:23-28 (below), Jesus declares that many will seek to enter the Kingdom, but not be able. Why? He said that He never knew them (verse 25, and 27).
Luke 13:23-28
23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you,’ I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. NKJV
How can we know that we know Jesus? If you cannot answer that question in accordance with what is written in the Bible, then again you have been following blind guides, who teach philosophy, and make up their own precepts based on human wisdom.
However, if you are on the narrow path, the right path, then you hear Jesus’ Words, and believe.
John 5:24
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
Jesus always spoke God’s Word (John 12:49), and those who belong to God, hear His Word according to John 8:47.
John 8:47
47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” NKJV
How do we come to know Jesus? We have to obey Him (1 John 2:3-5), and the only way to obey Him is to put off our old self, renew our minds with the truth, and put on the new man (Ephesians 4:20-24).
1 John 2:3-5
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. NKJV
Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. NKJV
There are several denominations today that teach the exact opposite of those verses. That’s millions and millions of Christians who have taken the broad path without knowing it. Most of them will not know that they followed blind guides until the last day when they will gnash their teeth.
How do we abide in Jesus? It’s the same answer. We must obey His commands. If you did not answer correctly, know that you have been taught by blind guides.
John 15:9-10
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. NKJV
What did Jesus command us? Most Christians will answer with the Ten Commandments. That’s wrong. The Ten Commandments came through Moses.
If you answered that question with the Ten Commandments, then you have been taught by the blind. Jesus commands are new.
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” NKJV
1 John 3:23
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. NKJV
Blind guides want you to remain under Moses so that you will tithe according to Moses, but in order to obey the Gospel you must share your tithe with the saints (faithful). The high priest collects the tithe, and our new High Priest, Jesus Christ wants us to give it to the least of His brothers and sisters (Matthew 25: 14-29).
2 Corinthians 9:10-14
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, NKJV
1 John 3:16-19
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. NKJV
James 2:14-17
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. NKJV
I’m alan ballou; a servant. Let us return to the Lord in keeping with His instructions found in His Word. If you have questions, ask, and Lord willing I will answer you in accordance with what is written. However, if you reject what is written I cannot help you. Farewell
