Worldly obedience vs. Holy faithfulness

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Mark 8:14-16
14
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
15
“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

16
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

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The yeast makes a loaf large so it looks to be of more value, yet it is light and the person remains hungry, so they buy more.

The spiritual yeast of the Pharisees is in their traditions and ceremonies:

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Mark 7:6-7
6
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

7
They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

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The Pharisees do not share the truth, none may enter the kingdom, and all remain hungry for holiness. Their yeast was that of empty wisdom.

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Matthew 23:13
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

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Human wisdom. Human authority. Both Herod and the Pharisees rely on obedience to the workings of what is in front of them, the knowledge of good and evil. But it is through truth that we find the gospel of faith. And it is in faithful acts that we see holiness is founded in love.

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Mark 8:16-21
16
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

20
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

21
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

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Love is the foundation of the Spirit of Truth. The unseen qualities of holiness are also where the power of God resides. All the wonders and signs of the power of God that came through Jesus, were based in love. While those who maintain human authority and observe human wisdom, rely upon what they know and what they are witness to.

The disciples had one loaf of bread, and were concerned for how they would eat, even though they witnessed Jesus feed thousands. Why? Because they were obedient to him as their teacher, but still did not comprehend that it is faithfulness that is recognized by the Father as of his Spirit.

The difference between obedience and faith is the difference between the physical and the spiritual. You cannot obey what you do not witness, and you cannot have faith work through you to supply something you are already witness to. This is confirmed with this blessing:

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John 20:29
29
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

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The worldly yeast requires obedience and is based on the knowledge of good and evil supplied by what was placed before us. The spiritual works of the Truth require faith based on the unseen qualities of God.

To close, when our Christ returns, those who rule with him are witness to the will of God and are therefore in loving obedience. Faithfulness will at that point mainfest also, like it did through the Christ. It will be full, complete, and show the Father to be righteous alone. But until that point, we must regard the faith ministry and the gospel of the kingdom as our loving service.  By faithful acts we will overcome the enemy, whom; although defeated, must be placed under heal. The longer we remain obedient to a knowledge that is incomplete, the longer it will take for the fire of faithfulness to overcome death.

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Romans 14:23
23
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

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1 Corinthians 15:26

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

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1 Corinthians 15:54
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

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