In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus spoke in chapter 7:
5 So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples not live their lives according to the tradition of the elders, but [instead] eat their bread with [ceremonially] unwashed hands?”
6 He replied, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture],
‘These people honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 ‘They worship Me in vain [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense],
Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’
8 You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling[faithfully] to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside and nullifying (rejecting) the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations.
What happens when direct communion with FATHER ceases? Tradition sets in. What happens when man attempts to replace revelation with his own “prophetic” words, actions, and ceremonies, attempting to get FATHER to honor them as some sort of endorsement? Tradition sets in. Man attempts to simulate a relationship with FATHER by projecting his own heart apart from FATHER’S Word. FATHER will not be coerced into complying with whatever proceeds out of the mouth and ceremonial actions of men and women. Their heart is far from HIM and their words and actions tend to exalt them over the people they are attempting to gather under their “ministry”.
I could prophesy to you that the sun will set today, tomorrow, and the next day, but that does not make me a prophet of Our Heavenly Father. I could prophesy that there will be a shooting three days from now but it does not make me a prophet. A true prophet only speaks the Words FATHER speaks to him or her and adds nothing to FATHER’S Word. We must be careful when it comes to responding and acting on the words of those who proclaim to be prophets. Over the years, I have seen many who have suffered greatly because they exalted a “prophet’s” words because they were unable to hear FATHER directly. The fruit tells the story.
FATHER did not find it necessary to produce a million word Bible to lead us to fellowship with HIM. Within the Gospels is the key to communion with HIM. The disciples were led by THE SPIRIT to write the epistles for our benefit. Those epistles were non-existent except in THE SPIRIT when they were ministering the simplicity of The Gospel of Christ, yet men and women today, think they need to expand the Word into complexity thus exalting themselves above others.
Agape Love is simply the key to becoming one with FATHER. We don’t have to go through some complex ceremony to get FATHER’S attention. HE did not make HIS accessibility dependent on some complex formula or process that only a few can discover. We must set aside our soulish faculties and come to HIM in the simplicity of a child expressing his or her Love. Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 10:
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Our minds want to complicate the Gospel in order to exalt our ego above others who are less knowledgeable of the Scripture. We must not allow ourselves to reject the simplicity of The Gospel, otherwise we will fall into the trap of tradition and ceremony.