Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Paul was being judged for his actions that had resulted in a riot the day before in Jerusalem. Even though Paul had done nothing wrong, his presence had caused a tumult.

Paul looked at the group of religious leaders and he saw Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees held more to the law of Moses while the Pharisees not only followed the law of Moses, but they were the defenders of the oral law, or the traditions that had arisen over the years as man had interpreted the law of Moses.

Because of the traditions that the Pharisees had so often tried to enforce, when Christ was here on this earth, he often rebuked them. On many occasions, Jesus was attacking the Pharisees because of their traditions and their attitudes. While Jesus did attack the Sadducees, HE did not do it nearly as often as he did the Pharisees. Most likely this was because they were not as engrossed in all the Jewish traditions that were created by man.

While the Pharisees seemed to be much more liberal in their religion then the Sadducees, there was one doctrine that the Pharisees followed that the Sadducees did not. The Pharisees believed that after a Jew died, he would be resurrected and that there would be an afterlife. The Sadducees on the other hand did not believe in a resurrection and instead believed, that once a man died, he was dead forever. The Sadducees did not even believe in angels.

Paul was no longer a Pharisee in that he had abandoned that life when God had reached out and touched him. However, Paul had an opportunity to help the religious leaders understand the truth that he was preaching. The Pharisees believed that there was life after death just like the New Testament Christians believed. While the Christians did not believe in all the traditions that the Pharisees taught, there was one common doctrine that they could agree on.

Paul took the common doctrine of resurrection and he used that to open a door for them to be more receptive to his message. The Pharisees had no desire to hear Paul because they were so focused upon how Paul dealt with the Gentiles that they wanted nothing to do with Paul. Now that they understood how they were somewhat similar, they were more willing to hear out Paul which opened the door for some of them to be converted.

We need to understand that there are many people out there who do not believe in the truths of the scripture. However, if you are patient and if you take the time to learn a little bit more about your audience, you will probably find something that they believe in that can open the door for you sharing Christ with them. We must learn that we are to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. This means that we should see what doors God wants to open and then follow them so that God can use our words to reach others.

There are many who have been persuaded by false prophets and false religions. A false religion often takes some truth and distorts it to create a new doctrine. We must learn to love these individuals who have been led astray and be patient with them so that one day, when God gives us the chance, God can use our words to open their eyes and their ears to HIS truth. Wait on the Lord’s timing and you will soon see conversions that you never thought possible.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

You are not saved by the law but by faith. While you are commanded to do good works, your good works will not save you. You can obey every law in the Bible but until you take a step of faith, you will not be innocent of your sins.

During the time of Jesus, the Pharisees and the Sadducees sought to be justified by the law. They obey their laws down to the last detailed. However, they were not any closer to God because of it. Yes, they received the praises of men. Nonetheless, they did not recognize Jesus for who HE really was and they crucified the One who they had been waiting for.

Because the Pharisees and Sadducees were so focused on the law and not on listening to the words of Christ, they missed the whole message. If you remain so focused upon the law, you will miss the opportunity to live by faith. Instead of focusing your attention upon being legalistic, you need to focus your attention on listening to the Holy Spirit. You will miss many blessings that could have been yours if you had just been willing to stop and seek God.

When Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha, Martha was so busy trying to please Jesus by how good of a host she could be that she failed to hear the words of the Master. Martha desired to please Jesus, but she was doing it in the wrong way. She was trying to please HIM by doing what she could do. What Jesus desired that Martha do was stop, sit down and listen to HIM speak. Until you hear the voice of God, you will never be able to live by faith.

We like to be in control. We like to determine what we do next. Living by faith does not allow us to be in control of our own life. Living by faith requires that we spend time being patient listening to HIM. Living by faith is similar to a horse and his master out for a ride. The horse may desire to be finished and go back to the barn for feeding. The horse probably is comfortable in its routine. However, what happens if the master changes the routine. What if after finishing the normal lap the master guides the horse down a new trail? Will the horse be attentive to its master’s signals and go to a new destination, or will it balk and demand that the master stay within the horse’s comfort level?

Living by faith is how you are commanded to live your life. You are not commanded to live by the law but by faith. Granted, both living by faith and living by the law require obedience. However, living by the law allows you to make the law and your works the most important thing. You receive the credit when you obey the law. However, when you live by faith, God is the one who receives the glory.

You cannot afford to become legalistic. If you focus your attention upon the law, your law will become more important to you then people. It is not your obedience to your laws that will make you righteous. It is not your diligent observance to your doctrine that will make you innocent. It is your ability to listen to the voice of God and to do what HE has said. It is when you take that step of faith that enables you to live a life pleasing to God.

Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Jesus was warning the disciples about the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. However, the disciples were so concerned about the lack of bread that they were not really listening to Jesus. Jesus was trying to speak with HIS disciples, yet because they allowed fear and doubt to cloud their thought process, they were not able to hear Jesus.

Jesus told the disciples that they had little faith for two reasons. First, HE had taught them in the Sermon on the Mount that they should not worry about their provision. Second, HE had demonstrated to them twice HIS ability to take care of their substance. Now because they were worrying about food rather then listening to Jesus, they failed to hear the important lesson Jesus had for them.

Imagine a little boy going to Sunday School class one day and learning about children in Africa who do not eat regularly because of the lack of food. Now that boy comes home and he begins to worry about whether he will have breakfast tomorrow. It does not matter that he has never gone without breakfast before. The boy’s father to no avail tries to tell him to stop worrying, that breakfast will be provided. The father tries to tell his son about an opportunity for the son to earn a little money to give to the missionary who is coming to church next week who ministers to starving children in Africa. However, the boy is so concerned about breakfast that he cannot think about other’s needs.

When we worry about those things that God has told us not to worry about, we become distracted and we are not able to hear those things that God is trying to tell us. Worry not only kills our faith, but it also causes us to not hear the voice of the Lord clearly during the time that we most need HIM. When you have a need that is big enough that you are concerned about how it is going to be satisfied, this is when you must be listening to the Lord. The bigger the problem, the closer to God you need to be.

It is at this time that you cannot afford to have your ears plugged by doubts of the devil. This is especially true when this is a trial that you have faced before, and you have seen the Lord’s provision. When you have seen the Lord’s provision, it is a good time to sit back and wait and see just how the Lord is going to provide. While you wait for the Lord, concentrate your attention upon what HE is telling you to do.

Do not be like the disciples who allowed worry to control their lives. Instead, we need to take our concerns for our needs and use them as an opportunity to cast all of cares upon HIM. We need to learn to draw near to God during our time of need, since it is during our time of need that God desires to speak to us important truths regarding our direction.

Problems will often arise in our lives that are designed to draw us closer to God so that we hear HIS voice and are drawn closer to HIM. God uses these times of trials to impart important truths into us. However, if we allow worry to plug up our ears, we not only fail to hear God�s voice, but it clouds our ability to trust God to provide for our needs. If you desire faith, then you must trust in the Lord that HE is faithful and true to give you that which HE has promised to give you.