I Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

A SELF RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT

When Jesus said, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of
heaven," He was not insinuating that the scribes and Pharisees were in fact righteous.
What He is saying is that unless our righteousness exceeds a mere outward show,
unless we exhibit a true and living righteousness, a righteousness of the heart towards
God, a righteousness that is not filthy, but pleasing to Him, we will by no means enter the
kingdom of heaven. This has nothing to do with self-righteousness or legalism. It does
however, have everything do to with the splendor, power, and majesty of God's
magnificent grace.

A TRUE ILLUSTRATION
A prominent Preacher came home after a very successful Sunday at his Church,
which incidentally was quite large, and fell asleep in a parlor chair.
An Angel, it is said, appeared to him in a dream and asked him, How is your zeal?
He was proud of his zeal for the Lord and answered, Fine!
The Angel ten asked him for his zeal, with him in the dream, reaching into his bosom,
pulling it out, and giving it to him.

The Angel put it in a crucible (a container that can withstand very high temperatures
and is used for metal, glass, and pigment production as well as a number of modern
laboratory processes) turning up fire under it until it melted. He then poured it out on the
hearth (a brick, stone, or concrete area in front of a fireplace) and it formed a strata
(layers or pieces formed into one substance).

He then broke it in pieces and put each piece on scales and weighted it and gave the
following analysis to the Preacher:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bigotry 11 parts.
Personal ambition 22 parts.
Love of Praise 19 parts.
Pride of Denomination 15 parts.
Love of authority 12 parts.
Pride of talents 14 parts.
Love of God 4 parts.
Love of man 3 parts.

Of the 100 parts or pounds broken up, only seven parts were pure, with some 93 parts
being wood, hay, stubble (I Cor. 3:11-15).
That which was pure, was symbolized as gold, silver, and precious stones (I Cor.
3:11-15).
The Preacher in relating the dream, said in answer to the Angel, when the results were
presented, that his anger arose, and he began to deny the Truth of the analysis; the Angel
at the moment said nothing, but turned and walked toward the door.

He then stopped and looked back with pity in his eyes and said, May God save
you, and then walked out the door.

When the Minister awoke, conviction seized his heart and he got down and prayed
more to be saved from himself than he had ever prayed to be saved from Hell.
He prayed until the refining fire of the Spirit purged him of self and thereafter he was
a greater success than ever, but this time in Christ and not of self.
This refining process is not doubt the greatest need of the modern Church, and to be
frank, of each and every one of us (Rom. Chpts. 6; 12; 14; Gal. Chpt. 5; Eph. Chpts. 4-5;
Col. Chpt. 3).

Pilgrim Outreach Ministries

. . . go ye into all the world and preach the gospel . . .

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